Fig. 6: Enrichment analysis identifies hippocampal ERK signaling pathway involved in hypothalamic-derived cognitive dysfunction.

A results of GSEA analysis show upregulation of ERK signaling pathway in the PEL group (n = 6) compared to the Sham group (n = 6). Immunoblotting confirmed the elevated expression of p-ERK in hippocampal tissues of mice after PEL surgery (B, C F (3.000, 12.18) = 109.2, p < 0.01). Immunoblotting confirmed elevated Aβ expression in hippocampal tissues of mice after PEL surgery, and OXT reduced Aβ expression (B, D Kruskal–Wallis statistic=17.95, p < 0.01). Trajectory diagram of PEL group (n = 6), U0126 supplemented group (n = 6) and TBHQ group (n = 6) mice in the MWM place navigation experiment (E). Quantitative analysis of latency in the MWM place navigation experiment (F) (F (2, 69) = 22.05, p < 0.01). Trajectory diagrams of PEL group (n = 6), supplemented U0126 group (n = 6), and TBHQ group mice (n = 6) 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. G Quantitative analysis of activity time around the platform in the MWM spatial exploration experiment (H). (F (2, 15) = 16.57 p < 0.01). Data were analyzed by 1-way ANOVA followed by LSD multiple comparisons test followed by LSD multiple comparisons test (C, H), Kruskal–Wallis test (D) and two-way ANOVA (F). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Compared to Sham, **P < 0.01. PEL, pituitary stalk electrical damage; GO gene ontology; GSEA gene set enrichment analysis, MWM Morris Water Maze.