Fig. 1: UCMS effects on behavior.

a–c UCMS alters home-cage-like behavior. Data represent the average of the first 4 h of the dark cycle measured each week throughout the UCMS exposure (n = 12/group). UCMS-exposed mice showed a decrease in the time spent in the (a) food zone and the (b) drinking zone and an increase in time spent in the (c) shelter zone. Post hoc analysis showed that the effects all three measures were observed at the end of the UCMS exposure (*p < 0.05) compared to home cage controls. d–f Spotlight challenge induces an anxiogenic response in both control and UCMS-exposed mice. Data presented correspond to the time spent in each zone for the hour before, during and after the spotlight challenge on day 34. UCMS-exposed mice overall spent less time in the (d) food zone and (e) drinking zone, and more time in the (f) shelter zone. Both control and UCMS-exposed mice spent less time in the food zone during the light challenge (***p < 0.001) in favor of the shelter zone. Post hoc analysis showed that the UCMS mice are significantly different from controls, before, during and after the light challenge (*p < 0.05). g UCMS induces degradation of coat state quality. This effect was progressive starting at week 2 (post hoc ***p < 0.0001 compared to control group). h UCMS induces anxiety-like deficits in the elevated plus maze test. UCMS-exposed animals showed a significant decreased in time and percent entries in the open arms compared to the control group (*p < 0.05). Bar and linear graphs show mean ± s.e.m. i PC1 captures the variance attributed to UCMS. Principal component analysis revealed 3 components capturing behavioral variance across the UCMS and control animals. PC1 scores account for the highest between-group difference, relative to PC2 and PC3, thus likely capturing the effect of stress dimensionally across groups