Figure 2.

Affective behavior after CLP with and without corticosterone treatment. In the open field test (A–C), CLP survivors explored the entire arena less (A), spent similar amounts of time in the center (B), and exhibited a trend toward fewer entries into the center (C) (p = .052); corticosterone treatment did not prevent these anxiety-like behaviors. Heat maps show the activity of representative typical and anxiety-like behavior in the open field. In the elevated zero maze test (D–G), CLP survivors exhibited anxiety-like behavior, including decreased total exploration (D), time spent in the open area (E), and frequency of head peaks into the open area (G) without affecting the frequency in the open area (F). Again, corticosterone treatment did not prevent the effect of CLP in the elevated zero maze test (sham: n = 40, CLP: n = 32 for open field and elevated zero maze tests). In the forced swim test (H), CLP had no effect on swimming distance or time spent immobile. There was an independent effect of corticosterone treatment to decrease the time spent immobile (I) (sham: n = 20, CLP: n = 14 for forced swim test). Error bars show standard error of the mean. Statistical analysis by three-way analysis of variance for (A–I). ∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01, ∗∗∗p < .001. CLP, cecal ligation and puncture.