Fig. 1: Behavioral alterations in DAT-KO, DAT-HET and WT rats.

A Mean values (±SEM) of the total distance moved in the open field test. B Mean values (± SEM) of percentual time spent in motion in the open field test. C Mean values (± SEM) of time spent in the center in the open field test. D Typical movement patterns in the open field test illustratively presented for N = 4 animals (N = 2 WT rats), with DAT-KO rats demonstrating a repetitive circling pattern with center avoidance. E Differences in prepulse inhibition (in percentage from startle, mean values ± SEM) for four sound pressure levels (72, 76, 80, and 84 dB). AU arbitrary units, dB decibel, SEM standard error of the mean; *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001.