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. 2014 Aug 5;9(8):e104172. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104172

Figure 4. Neonatal overexposure to NRG3 impairs social behaviors in adulthood.

Figure 4

(A) Vehicle and NRG3-EGF treated mice spent more time in chamber with the novel mouse 1 than a novel object in the 3-chamber test of sociability. (B) Both treatment groups showed preference for the novel mouse 1 in time spent sniffing; however, the preference was blunted in mice overexposed to NRG3-EGF compared to vehicle treated mice. (C) NRG3-EGF treated mice showed absence of preference for social novelty, spending equal time in the chamber with familiar mouse 1 and novel mouse 2. (D) Sniff time at familiar mouse 1 and novel mouse 2 was comparable in NRG3-EGF overexposed mice, whereas vehicle treated mice showed a significant preference for the more unfamiliar novel mouse 2. (E) During the initial 10-minute habituation period to the apparatus the number of entries was equal between right and left chambers. (F) Schematic showing the setup of the trials in the three-chambered social test apparatus. n = 11–12/treatment group. Data represents mean ± s.e.m. **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 within group comparison (novel mouse 1 vs. novel object or familiar mouse 1 vs. novel mouse 2), #p<0.05,##p<0.01 between group comparison (Vehicle vs. NRG3-EGF treated mice).