Fig. 10

Behavioral involvement of Dbx1-derived cells in the VMH. a-d Images of the VMH with YFP-expressing cells co-labeled with c-Fos after mice were exposed to predator (a), fasting (b), mating (c), or aggression (d) behavioral paradigms. (A.i-D.iii) Quantification of total c-Fos (A.i-D.i), total co-labeled cells (A.ii-D.ii), and percent of Dbx1-derived cells co-labeled with c-Fos (YFP + c-Fos / total YFP; A.iii-D.iii) in male and female mice compared to appropriate behavioral controls. After exposure to rat odor, only females had a significant increase in total c-Fos in the Arc (A.i, gray bar) and only males had a significant increase in the total numbers of co-labeled cells (A.ii, black bar). After fasting, only males had a significant increase in total c-Fos and total co-labeled cells in the VMH (B.i and B.ii, black bars). Significant increases in total c-Fos, total co-labeled cells, and the percent of Dbx1-derived cells expressing c-Fos was detected in both males and females after mating and aggression (C.i-D.iii). Mean ± SEM; n = 4–13 mice per subgroup; *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001. The scale bar represents 50 μm for low mag and 10 μm high mag images in panels a-d