Figure 3. Increased spontaneous locomotor activity and altered exploration of the α₃^+/D801Y mice.

The α₃^+/D801Y mice (N = 15) displayed hyperlocomotion (a) and traveled significantly longer in the open field test (a, insert) compared to WT mice (N = 14). Representative track plots of the first 3 minutes of open field exploration are shown in (b). The α₃^+/D801Y mice remained significantly longer in the open field periphery than WT mice (c). After an initial habituation period, WT mice displayed increased meander defined as horizontal rotation per distance traveled. This behavior was completely absent in the α₃^+/D801Y mice, here shown as the average score of 14 α₃^+/D801Y and 14 WT mice (d). Representative track plots of elevated plus maze exploration are shown in (g). WT mice (N = 14) preferred to enter the closed arms whereas α₃^+/D801Y mice (N = 15) showed no arm preference (e,f). The α₃^+/D801Y mice occupied the open arms significantly longer than WT mice (g). All data shown are means ± SD *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001.