Fig. 1: Behavioral and molecular biomarkers for autism-like phenotypes in Drd2-KO mice. | Experimental & Molecular Medicine

Fig. 1: Behavioral and molecular biomarkers for autism-like phenotypes in Drd2-KO mice.

From: Lactobacillus paracasei-derived extracellular vesicles reverse molecular and behavioral deficits in mouse models of autism spectrum disorder

Fig. 1

a, Layouts of the three-chamber apparatus for testing sociability (top) and social novelty preference (bottom). b–e, Social behaviors in Drd2-KO mice: time spent exploring a social target compared with an empty cage (sociability; b and d) and time spent exploring a novel stranger versus a familiar one (social novelty preference; c and e) in the three-chamber social behavior test. Data shown for both male (b and c) and female (d and e) mice. Male: wild type (WT), 6 animals; Drd2-KO, 7 animals. Female: WT, 7 animals; Drd2-KO, 5 animals. Male (b and c). Sociability (b). WT versus Drd2-KO. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) post-hoc test. Genotype, F(1,22) = 0.09477, P = 0.7611; Social target, F(1,22) = 19.56, P = 0.0002; genotype × social target, F(1,22) = 8.379, P = 0.0084. Social preference (c). WT versus Drd2-KO. Two-way ANOVA, Fisher’s LSD post-hoc test. Genotype, F(1,22) = 0.1337, P = 0.7182; social target, F(1,22) = 7.112, P = 0.0141; genotype × social target, F(1,22) = 2.033, P = 0.1680. Female (d and e). Sociability (d). WT versus Drd2-KO. Two-way ANOVA, Fisher’s LSD post-hoc test. Genotype, F(1,20) = 11.43, P = 0.0030; social target, F(1,20) = 15.11, P = 0.0009; genotype × social target, F(1,20) = 10.98, P = 0.0035. Social preference (e). WT versus Drd2-KO. Two-way ANOVA, Fisher’s LSD post-hoc test. Genotype, F(1,20) = 4.164, P = 0.0547; social target, F(1,20) = 5.396, P = 0.0308; genotype × social target, F(1,20) = 7.249, P = 0.0140. f–k, Self-directed repetitive behaviors. Time spent by male and female Drd2-KO mice on grooming (f and i), rearing (g and j) and digging (h and k). Male: WT, 5 animals; Drd2-KO, 7 animals. Female: WT, 7 animals; Drd2-KO, 5 animals. Male (f–h). WT versus Drd2-KO. Student’s t-test. Grooming, t = 4.012, P = 0.0025; rearing, t = 0.03921, P = 0.9695; digging, t = 1.334, P = 0.2119. Female (i–k). WT versus Drd2-KO. Student’s t-test. Grooming, t = 2.890, P = 0.0161; rearing, t = 1.605, P = 0.1396; digging, t = 1.987, P = 0.0749. l,m, Drd2-interacting genes identified from 1,162 SFARI genes; 281 genes at confidence scores ≥0.15; 75 genes at confidence scores ≥0.4; 15 genes at confidence scores ≥0.7 (l). Protein–protein interaction networks with four functional groups grouped based on their possible BPs (m). n–p, RT-PCR data showing changes in expression levels of Disc1, Cnr1, Ppp1r1b (DARPP-32), Ppp2r1b, Oxt and Oxtr in the dStr (n), NAc (o) and dHP (p) of Drd2-KO mice. n = 4 animals per group. Four PCR repeats per group. WT versus Drd2-KO. Student’s t-test. dStr (n): Disc1, t = 2.190, P = 0.0711; Cnr1, t = 0.6145, P = 0.5615; Ppp1r1b, t = 2214, P = 0.0688; Ppp1r9b, t = 2.845, P = 0.0294; Oxt, t = 4.369, P = 0.0047; Oxtr, t = 0.1649, P = 0.8744. NAc (o): Disc1, t = 1.669, P = 0.1462; Cnr1, t = 2.452, P = 0.0496; Ppp1r1b, t = 0.6174, P = 0.5597; Ppp1r9b, t = 4.007, P = 0.0071; Oxt, t = 1.352, P = 0.2250; Oxtr, t = 0.07638, P = 0.9416. dHP (p): Disc1, t = 2.209, P = 0.0693; Cnr1, t = 1.456, P = 0.1956; Ppp1r1b, t = 4.660, P = 0.0035; Ppp1r9b, t = 0.7361, P = 0.4894; Oxt, t = 4.983, P = 0.0025; Oxtr, t = 1.290, P = 0.2444.

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