Figure 1.

Timeline of the experimental procedure. Mice (n = 60) were exposed to 19 days of unpredictable chronic social stress paradigm. Fecal pellet were collected at day 5, 12, and 19 (indicated by arrow heads). Mice were split into 3 separated cohorts (n = 20): a sample, gastrointestinal (GI) motility and behavioral testing group. In the sample group plasma corticosterone, tissue neurotransmitters (high-performance liquid chromatography [HPLC]), mRNA and protein expression were assessed as well as ex vivo cecum ion transport (Ussing chambers). In the motility testing group red carmine dye was administered 2 hours following last stress session to assess the whole GI transit time and plasma corticosterone was determined. In the behavioral testing group, the social interaction test and body composition analysis were carried out. ENS, enteric nervous system.