Fig. 7

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) promotes the formation of neurospheres and neurogenesis from SVZ-isolated cells in the adult prairie vole. Number (a) and size (b) of SVZ-isolated neurospheres formed under EGF (20 ng/mL) treatment for twelve days in female (Fe) and male (Ma) voles either control (Co) or with social cohabitation and mating (SCM) stimulus. Number of MAP2 + (c) and GFAP + (d) cells with EGF (20 ng/mL) in neurospheres cultured for fifteen days under adherent conditions. Number (e) and size (f) of neurospheres cultured without growth factors (WoGF) twelve days after the start of culture. Number of MAP2 + (g) and GFAP + (h) cells WoGF in neurospheres cultured for fifteen days under adherent conditions. Data were analyzed with a two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. n = 4 subjects per group. Each SCM group was compared with its respective Control group in both sexes (FeCo vs FeSCM, MaCo vs MaSCM), and females were compared with male in each sociosexual condition (FeCo vs MaCo, FeSCM vs MaSCM). SCM different from Co in the same sex, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. Female different from male in the same sociosexual condition, ^#p < 0.05, ^##p < 0.01, ^###p < 0.001, ^####p < 0.0001