Fig. 1.

Experimental design and behavioral test. a Experimental schedule. Fetal period stress was obtained by oral treatment of ethanol (3 g/kg × 2/day) during the pregnancy, from embryonic days (E) 10–13. CSFE fluorescent-labeled NSC solution mixed with atelocollagen was injected intravenously into 42-day-old rats. CORT (20 mg/kg/day s.c.) and/or Ser (10 mg/kg/day i.p.) were administered repeatedly every day for 21 days (70–90 days old). Alterations of behavioral performance and brain neural circuit were evaluated 91 days old. On 90 days old, rats were forced to swim for a 15-min period, subsequently on 91-day-old rats were subjected to the second 5-min forced swim test session, and the total duration of immobility was measured by video camera recordings. b Changes of immobility time in forced swim test. Immobility times in depression model rats (CORT) were significantly prolonged than control rats (*P < 0.05). Refractory depression model rats (prenatal ethanol exposure + CORT) displayed significantly longer immobility time than control rats (*P < 0.05), and depression model rats (^# P < 0.05). Data represent mean ± s.e.m. (n = 10–13)