Figure 2.

Activation of oxytocin receptor-expressing neurons in the lateral septum ameliorated the abnormal social novelty in Nl3^R451C: Oxtr^cre/+ mice. (A) Investigation time quantified during the social novelty by three-chamber test (third stage) of Oxtr-Cre (Ctrl) and Nl3^R451C: Oxtr^cre/+ mice (Nl3:Oxtr^cre/+). N = 9 per group. (B) Total distance traveled as measured with open field test. Ctrl: N = 5, Nl3:Oxtr^cre/+: N = 10. (C) Number of buried marbles quantified repetitive behavior with the marble burying test. Ctrl: N = 10, Nl3:Oxtr^cre/+: N = 8. (D) Schematic diagram of the protocol for virus infection and the single field test in Nl3:Oxtr^cre/+ mice. (E) Behavioral schematic of the single field test. (F) Investigation time during the social novelty (third stage) by single field test, administered saline to Ctrl (N = 10), CNO to Ctrl (N = 15), saline to Nl3:Oxtr^cre/+ (N = 10) and CNO to Nl3:Oxtr^cre/+ (N = 10). All mice using the single field test were infected with hM3Dq vector earlier than 2 weeks. Paired t-tests were performed for three-chamber test and single field test (A,F) and Mann–Whitney tests were performed for open field test and marble burying test (B,C). *^,**p < 0.05, 0.01.