Fig. 4: PTEN is a key factor involved in the CRS-induced dendrite atrophy.

a Diagram of experiment design and timeline for (b, c). b, c Representative images showing the dendrite tree of pyramidal neurons in layers II/III of PFC from control mice and CRS-treated mice. d Diagram of experiment design and timeline for (e). e Representative image showing the dendrite tree of pyramidal neurons in layers II/III of PFC from mice with over-expression of Pten. f Diagram of experiment design and timeline for (g). g Representative image showing the dendrite tree of pyramidal neurons in layers II/III of PFC from CRS-treated mice with VO-Ohpic administration. h–j Statistical data showing the soma size (h), total length of dendrites (i), and dendritic branching (j) of the PFC neurons in indicated groups. n = 20 cells from 5 mice in each group and all data are presented as mean ± SEM. One-way ANOVA (h, i), **p < 0. 01 versus controls, ^##p < 0.01 (CRS-treated mice versus CRS-treated mice with VO-Ohpic). Two-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey’s test (j), *p < 0. 05, **p < 0.01 (control mice versus CRS-treated mice); ^#p < 0.05, ^##p < 0.01 (CRS-treated mice versus CRS-treated mice with VO-Ohpic); ^Δp < 0. 05; ^ΔΔp < 0. 01 (control mice versus mice with over-expression of Pten). k Diagram of experiment design and timeline for (l). l Representative image showing the dendrite tree of pyramidal neuron in layers II/III of PFC from control mice. m Diagram of experiment design and timeline for (n, o). n, o Representative images showing the dendrite tree of pyramidal neuron in layers II/III of PFC from Pten-deficient neurons without or with CRS, respectively. Deletion of Pten was achieved by the injection of AAV2/9-Cre in Pten^Flox/Flox mice. p–r Statistical data showing the soma size (p), total length of dendrites (q), and dendritic branching (r) of the PFC neurons in indicated groups. n = 20 cells from 5 mice in each group and all data are presented as mean ± SEM. One-way ANOVA (p, q), **p < 0. 01 versus controls. Two-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey’s test (r), *p < 0. 05, **p < 0.01 (control neuron versus Pten-deficient neurons with CRS). Scale bar = 40 μm (b, c, e, g, l, n, and o). CRS, chronic restraint stress; VO-Ohpic, VO-Ohpic trihydrate.