Fig. 1: ELS mice show enhanced risk-taking and depressive-like behaviors.

a Experimental design to induce and assess the effects of ELS on adult male mice (2–3 months old). b When compared with CTR, the weight of ELS animals is lower during the period of maternal separation but normalizes when animals reach P60. c, d ELS induces a decrease in latency to stop swimming in the forced swimming test, but no change in total time spent immobile. e, f Alterations in anxiety-like behaviors were assessed in the elevated plus maze including (d) percentage of time spent in the open arms and (e) latency to enter an open arm. ELS mice display normal motor but increased exploratory behavior in the open field, when measuring (g) total distance traveled and (h) time spent in the center portion of the arena, respectively. Statistical comparisons were performed using unpaired two-tailed t-test (for b–f) and two-way repeated measures ANOVA (for g, h); CTR n = 18–25, ELS n = 24–35. Statistical significance was set as *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01. Data are presented as means ± SEM.