Fig. 3

Distribution of ESR2⁺ cells in mouse and rat preoptic areas and its sex differences. Representative photomicrographs of ESR2- and Nissl-stained brain sections containing the AVPV of mice (A) and rats (C) and the MPN of mice (E) and rats (G). The black dashed line in each panel indicates the region of interest. The right images of panel G correspond to magnified views of the SDN-POA, surrounded by a red dashed line. 3 V, third ventricle; ac, anterior commissure; och, optic chiasm. Scale bars = 100 µm. The numbers of ESR2⁺ cells in the AVPV of mice (B) and rats (D) and the MPN of mice (F) and rats (H). Data are presented as the mean ± standard error of the mean (n = 4). Black dots represent individual data