Fig. 4

Dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in ERβ^−/− mice with DSS-induced colitis. A–O Representative images and quantitative analysis of Crh (A–D, M), Avp (E–H, N), and Oxt (I–L, O) immunofluorescence staining within the PVN of WT and ERβ^−/− mice under homeostatic conditions and after 5 days of DSS treatment. Scale bars = 50 μm. n = 5/group. P, Q Plasma corticosterone (P) and ACTH (Q) levels in baseline conditions and 5 days after DSS treatment in WT and ERβ^−/− mice. n = 8/group. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Statistical comparisons were performed using two-way ANOVA. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. Crh, corticotropin-releasing hormone; Avp, arginine vasopressin; Oxt, oxytocin; PVN, paraventricular nucleus; ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone