Fig. 3.

Correlation between anxiety behaviors in the LDB test and neurotransmitter levels. Depletion of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the cortex and dopamine in the striatum may be associated with anxiety behaviors. (a) The 5-hydroxytryptamine level in the prefrontal cortex is inversely correlated with the time mice spent in the dark box (r = −0.485, P < 0.01). (b) The 5-HIAA level in the prefrontal cortex did not correlate with the time mice spent in the dark box. The (c) dopamine (r = −0.65, P < 0.01) and (d) HVA (r = −0.519, P < 0.01, **P < 0.05) levels in the striatum inversely correlated with the time mice spent in the dark box. 5-HIAA, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid; HVA, homovanillic acid, LDB, light-dark box.