Representative photomicrographs illustrating the distribution of chrondroitin sulfate immunoreactivity (Green signal) and of parvalbumin-immunoreactive cells (red signal) as observed in in parasagittal sections of male (C, C) and female (B, D) zebra finch brains.

<p>Panels A_B illustrate differences in HVC, panels C-D concern RA. The magnification bar in D (20 μm) also applies to all other panels.</p

Sex differences in the percentage of DAPI cells that were immunoreactive for parvalbumin (%PV-ir cells) or were surrounded by perineuronal nets (%PNN cells), in the percentage of PV-ir cells surrounded by PNN (%PV with PNN) and in the percentage of PNN surrounding PV-ir cells (%PNN with PV) in 4 song control nuclei, HVC (used as a proper name), RA (robust nucleus of the arcopallium), Area X of the basal ganglia and LMAN (lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium).

<p>The figure shows the mean ± SEM of data in males (black bars) and females (open bars). Numbers of data in each case are listed in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0123199#pone.0123199.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>. ** = p<0.01, * = p<0.05 and (*) = 0.10</p

Sex differences in the numbers of DAPI positive cells, in numbers of parvalbumin-immunoreactive (PV-ir) cells, of perineuronal nets (PNN) and in PV-ir cells surrounded by PN (PV+PNN), and in the intensity and percentage of surface covered by chondroitin sulfate-immunoreactive material (PNN intensity and PNN fraction area) in 4 song control nuclei and 3 auditory and 3 visual areas of the zebra finch brain.

<p>In each case the table lists the mean + SEM (in parentheses) of values in males and females, followed by the associated F and p obtained in the corresponding ANOVA (see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0123199#sec002" target="_blank">methods</a> for detail of statistical analyses). The sample size in each case is indicated in a last column separately for all cell counts first and then for PNN intensity and fractional areas.</p><p>*** = p<0.001</p><p>** = p<0.01, = p<0.05 and</p><p>(*) = 0.10</p><p>Sex differences in the numbers of DAPI positive cells, in numbers of parvalbumin-immunoreactive (PV-ir) cells, of perineuronal nets (PNN) and in PV-ir cells surrounded by PN (PV+PNN), and in the intensity and percentage of surface covered by chondroitin sulfate-immunoreactive material (PNN intensity and PNN fraction area) in 4 song control nuclei and 3 auditory and 3 visual areas of the zebra finch brain.</p

Sex differences in the percentage of DAPI cells that were immunoreactive for parvalbumin (%PV-ir cells) or were surrounded by perineuronal nets (%PNN cells), in the percentage of PV-ir cells surrounded by PNN (%PV with PNN) and in the percentage of PNN surrounding PV-ir cells (%PNN with PV) in 3 auditory areas (Field L; the dorsal lateral mesencephalic nucleus, MLd; the medial nucleus of the dorsolateral thalamus, DLM), and 3 visual areas (the nucleus rotondus, ROT; the nucleus spiriformis lateralis, SpL; the nucleus subpretectalis, SP).

<p>The figure shows the mean ± SEM of data in males (black bars) and females (open bars). Numbers of data in each case are listed in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0123199#pone.0123199.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>. * = p<0.05 and (*) = 0.10</p

ZFontogenesiCountingPVPNNallsections

Excel file containing all raw data for numbers of PV and PNN in all nuclei investigate

Additional methods, figures and tables from Timing of perineuronal nets development in the zebra finch song control system correlates with developmental song learning

Methods, 3 figures and 2 tables providing additional results and detail of statistical analyse