Fig. 2

Estrous stage differences in 2-AG and AEA concentrations within female CNS regions. Differences in 2-AG and AEA concentrations were observed between female animals harvested according to varying estrous cycle stages (proestrus, estrus, metestrus, diestrus). A Comparison of ratio of 2-AG:AEA across CNS regions according to cycle stage. Within V1M cortex, females in estrus stage showed significantly greater 2-AG:AEA ratio as compared to proestrus, metestrus, and diestrus (*p = 0.01). No significant differences observed for 2-AG:AEA ratio across cycle stages within PAG. Within Vc, ratio of 2-AG:AEA was significantly greater for diestrous females as compared to proestrous females (*p = 0.015). No significant differences observed for 2-AG:AEA ratio across cycle stages for TG. B Comparison of AEA and 2-AG concentrations across cycle stages within V1M Cortex. Females harvested within estrus stage showed significantly decreased AEA concentration as compared to proestrus, metestrus, and diestrus (****p < 0.0001). No other significant differences observed between cycle stage for cortical AEA concentration or 2-AG concentration. C Comparison of AEA and 2-AG concentrations across cycle stages within PAG. AEA concentration for estrous females was significantly decreased as compared to metestrous females (*p = 0.02). No significant differences observed for 2-AG concentration between cycle stages. D Comparison of AEA and 2-AG concentrations across cycle stages within Vc. No significant differences across cycle stage observed for AEA concentration. Diestrus 2-AG concentration observed to be significantly greater than proestrus and estrus 2-AG concentrations (**p = 0.0012). E Comparison of AEA and 2-AG concentrations across cycle stages within TG. Metestrus AEA concentration observed to be significantly greater than proestrus AEA concentration (*p = 0.0465). No significant differences observed for 2-AG concentrations across cycle stage. AEA concentrations reported as picomole/gram tissue, 2-AG concentrations reported as nanomole/gram tissue. n = 20 females were monitored and harvested according to their estrous stage with n = 5 groups for proestrus, estrus, metestrus, and diestrus