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. 2016 Nov 7;6:36250. doi: 10.1038/srep36250

Figure 4. Prenatal VPA exposure induces a transgenerational effect on accompanying symptoms of ASD.

Figure 4

(A) Increased sensitivity to electroshock stimulation in F1, F2 and F3 VPA-exposed mice. The CC50 of VPA groups in each generation were significantly lower than that of their respective controls (***p < 0.001). The tables show the actual values of CC50 with upper and lower confidence limits. (F1: n = 14 for Con and 12 for VPA; F2: n = 12 for Con and 17 for VPA; F3: n = 20 for Con and 30 for VPA; all mice were randomly selected from 6 litters per group and per generation). (B) Hyperactivity of VPA-exposed mice in F1, F2 and F3 generations determined by the open field test. The total distance moved was significantly increased in VPA groups of each generation. (F1: n = 29 for Con and 32 for VPA; F2: n = 24 for Con and 22 for VPA; F3: n = 34 for Con and 65 for VPA; all mice were randomly selected from 6 litters per group and per generation). (C) The anti-anxiety behaviors of VPA-exposed mice in each generation were investigated in the elevated plus maze. The percentages of time spent in the open arms were significantly increased in the VPA groups of each generation. (F1: n = 13 for Con and 10 for VPA; F2: n = 19 for Con and 14 for VPA; F3: n = 10 for Con and 15 for VPA; all mice were randomly selected from 6 litters per group and per generation). All data are expressed using box plot diagram. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 vs. control group of each generation as revealed by post-hoc Bonferroni’s comparisons.