Fig. 3
Functional loss of 5-HT1Areceptor on the corticosterone and thermoregulatory responses. After fluoxetine injection for 4 weeks, the protein expression of TPH2 and c-Fos following 15 min of 8-OH-DPAT challenge was determined by western blot analysis in RN (A and B). Plasma corticosterone levels (C) or rectal temperature measurement (D) following 0, 15, 30, or 45 min of challenge with 8-OH-DPAT were analyzed. In addition, the plasma corticosterone levels were determined both pre- and post-exercise (E). The data are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 4 or 8/group). *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 compared to the saline group, #p < 0.05 and ##p < 0.01 compared to the saline-injected group without 8-OH-DPAT challenge or exercise. Serum cortisol levels of patients with ME/CFS were determined by EIA (F). The data are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 10 and 17, respectively). *p < 0.05 compared to the healthy controls