Fig. 1.

Effect of Mg²⁺ deficiency and chronic paroxetine treatment on selected anxiety-related measures in C57Bl/6N mice. A. In mice fed a Mg²⁺ restricted diet (MgD) the time spent in the anxiogenic centre of an open field was decreased compared with mice fed the control diet (control) indicating enhanced anxiety-related behaviour. B. Anxiety-related behaviour was also elevated in the light/dark test as indicated by the increased latency to enter the (anxiogenic) brightly lit compartment. Chronic treatment with paroxetine (MgD + PAR) did not alter anxiety-related behaviour of Mg²⁺ deficient mice in these tests. n = 10 per experimental group. Data represent means ± SEM. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 for Mg²⁺ deficient vs. control mice.