Predisposition of Neonatal Maternal Separation to Visceral Hypersensitivity via Downregulation of Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel Subtype 2 (SK2) in Mice

Figure 2

Mice experiencing neonatal MS showed anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. (a) Representative activity traces of control and MS mice in the elevated plus maze. (b–d) The duration spent in the open arms (-test, , ) and the times of entry into the open arms (-test, , ) were significantly reduced in the MS mice compared with the control mice ( per group), with no significant difference in the total distances travelled between the control and MS mice (-test, , , per group). (e) Schema of the open field and the representative activity traces in control and MS mice. (f–h) The duration in the central area (-test, , ) and the courses in the central area (-test, , ) were significantly reduced in the MS group compared with the control group ( per group); similarly, there was an insignificant difference in the total distances travelled between the control and MS mice (-test, , , per group). (i) Schematic diagram of the sucrose preference test. (j) The percentage of the sucrose intake volume over the total fluid intake volume in the MS mice was significantly smaller than that in the control mice (-test, , , per group). (k) Schematic representation of mobility and immobility in the forced swim test. (l) The percentage of immobility duration over the total time in the MS mice was significantly greater than that in the control mice (-test, , , per group). Data are expressed as ; and .

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