Fig. 4

Stimulatory effects of ethanol on expression and density of CCL2⁺ cells in NEP and processes in mHYP. Maternal ethanol administration group (2 g/kg/day, E10–E15) was compared to Untreated and isocaloric Control groups of embryos at E19, and the density of cells and processes was examined using single-labeled immunofluorescence histochemistry. a Ethanol significantly increased the density of CCL2⁺ cells in NEP and CCL2⁺ processes in mHYP of female embryos, but it had no effect in male embryos. b These effects in ethanol-exposed female embryos are illustrated in representative immunostaining images (× 20) of double-labeled CCL2⁺ cells in NEP and their CCL2⁺ processes in mHYP with DAPI, with cells and processes in box illustrated to the right in × 40 images and both the CCL2⁺ cells and processes in male embryos (× 20 images) exhibiting no significant change. Data are mean ± SEM. (n = 7/group/sex, *p < 0.05 versus control group, ^#p < 0.05 versus males). Two-way ANOVA was used to compare means between groups and simple main effect analyses to test differences between sexes as well as differences within each sex. NEP, neuroepithelium; mHYP, medial hypothalamus; V, third ventricle. Scale bars, 200 μm