Fig. 3.

Increased female susceptibility to the anxiogenic effects of SKF 83959. Sex differences in susceptibility to low doses (0, 0.1, 0.25 mg/kg) of SKF 83959-induced anxiety responses were evaluated using the elevated place maze (EPM). a Representative micrograph, left, showing electrode placements, right, in NAc. b SKF 83959 (0, 0.1, 0.25 mg/kg, s.c.) dose-dependently reduced the total time spent in the EPM open arms in female, but not in male rats. c SKF 83959 decreased the number of open arm entries in both male and female rats. d SKF 83959 had no effect on latency to first entry. Error bars represent means ± SEM, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, compared to vehicle-treated rats of the same sex, paired Student’s t test. N = 5–6/group