Figure 4

Open field test. In the first 5 min of the Open field test, illustrated in (a–c), prepubescent and pubescent animals of both sexes spent more time in the ‘wall’ zone than adult mice (a) (interaction p = 0.0239, age phase p < 0.0001, sex p < 0.0095). Male prepubescent animals moved a shorter distance (b) (interaction p = 0.0733, age phase p = 0.0122, sex p = 0.1613) and moved more slowly (c) (interaction p = 0.0734, age phase p = 0.0125, sex p = 0.1618) than the sex-matched adult group. Analysis of activity during the total test duration of 15 min, illustrated in (d–f), revealed that the distance moved (d) and velocity (e) in P50 and P65 mice exceeded that of the respective prepubescent animals (d, interaction p = 0.9626, age phase p < 0.0001, sex p = 0.0441, e, interaction p = 0.9628, age phase p < 0.0001, sex p = 0.0440). Independent of the sex of the animals, rearing frequency (f) proved to be lower in prepubescent animals as compared to sexually mature, young adult, and adult animals (interaction p = 0.2458, age phase p < 0.0001, sex p = 0.7122). Two-way ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni multiple comparison tests, *p < 0.05. Colored dots refer to the respective age groups. Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean (SEM).