Fig. 3: AAV-mediated overexpression of NEK4 in the hippocampus led to aberrant circadian fluctuations in mood behaviors.

A Diagram showing the injection site and fluorescence expression in the dorsal hippocampus of mice (injection position [AP]: −2.06 mm; [ML]: ±1.50 mm; [DV]: −1.50 mm). B Time scheme for mouse behavioral tests in NEK4 OE mice. C Results of open field tests during the day and night of the NEK4 OE mice compared to the control mice. The total distance travelled, the time spent in the center (day: P = 0.0483, df = 29, t = 2.062; night: P = 0.4094, df = 29, t = 0.837), and the time spent in the corner (day: P = 0.0166, df = 29, t = 2.542; night: P = 0.4935, df = 29, t = 0.694) were recorded. Center area time during the day compared with the night in NEK4 OE group (P = 0.0029, df = 30, t = 3.241). N = 15 Control mice/group, n = 16 NEK4 OE mice/group. D Results of the elevated plus maze tests during the day and night of the NEK4 OE mice compared to the control mice. The total distance traveled, time spent in the open arms (day: P = 0.0299, df = 26, t = 2.297; night: P = 0. 0.0017, df = 28, t = 3.472), and distance traveled in the open arms (day: P = 0.0294, df = 26, t = 2.304; night: P = 0. 1056, df = 28, t = 1.672) were measured. Opened arm time and distance during the day compared with the night in NEK4 OE group (time: P < 0.0001, df = 27, t = 5.271; distance: P < 0.0001, df = 27, t = 4.090). Opened arm distance during the day compared with the night in control group (P = 0.0440, df = 27, t = 2.113). N = 14 mice/day group, n = 15 mice/night group. E Results of forced swimming tests during the day and night of the NEK4 OE mice compared to the control mice, the mice were placed in water for 8 min, and the lengths of their immobility time within the remaining 6 min were calculated (day: P = 0.909, df = 28, t = 0.116; night: P = 0.0337, df = 28, t = 2.234). N = 15 Control mice/group, n = 15 NEK4 OE mice/group. F The small animal metabolic and behavioral phenotype analysis system was used to monitor free activities of the mice for 2 days. N = 3 Control mice/group, n = 3 NEK4 OE mice/group. Data A-E were shown as mean ± SD, F was shown as mean ± SEM. The two-sided student’s t test was used to perform the significance test. *P ≤ 0.05, **P ≤ 0.01, ***P ≤ 0.001, ****P < 0.0001. The shaded part represents the behavioral experiment data carried out in the dark environment at night (21:00-24:00). Source data are provided as a Source data file.