Fig. 4: Activation of endogenous OXT neurons after PEL also attenuates hypothalamic-derived cognitive dysfunction.

A Experimental study protocol for activation of endogenous OXT neurons after PEL. B Validation of activation of endogenous OXT neurons in mice with PVN OXT neurons activated after PEL surgery. C Quantitative analysis of the number of OXT neurons in the Veh (n = 6) and CNO (n = 6) groups. (t = 1.569, df = 10, p = 0.1477). D Quantitative analysis of the co-staining rate of OXT neurons with c-fos in the Veh (n = 6) and CNO (n = 6) groups. (Mann–Whitney U = 0, p < 0.01). E Trajectories of Veh (n = 6) mice and CNO (n = 6) mice in the MWM place navigation experiment. F Quantitative analysis of latency in the MWM place navigation experiment. (F (1, 46) = 91.72, p < 0.01). G Trajectories of Veh (n = 6) mice and CNO (n = 6) mice in the MWM spatial exploration experiment. The shaded part is the area around the platform, and the activity time of mice in the shaded part is calculated. H Quantification of activity time around the platform in the MWM spatial exploration experiment. (t = 3.248, df = 10, p < 0.01). I Trajectories of Veh (n = 6) and CNO (n = 6) mice in the three-chambers social experiment (S1). The shaded area is the cage where S1 is located. J Quantification of the social index of S1. (Mann–Whitney U = 0, p < 0.01). K Trajectory of Veh (n = 6) mice and CNO (n = 6) mice in the three-chambers social experiment (S2), The shaded area is the cage where S2 is located. L Quantitative results of S2 social index. (t = 2.493, df = 10, p < 0.05). Data were analyzed by t test (C); Mann–Whitney test (D, J); two-way ANOVA (F) and t-test (H, L). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Compared to Veh, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. Scale bar, 20 μm. MWM: Morris Water Maze; S1: Stranger1; S2: Stranger2; CNO: Clozapine N-oxide; 3 V, third ventricle；Veh: vehicle.