Estrous cycle stage during AVSS influences social interaction behaviors. a, Timeline of acute variable social stress and behavioral testing. b, AVSS increases serum corticosterone (Cort) levels in female mice (t(15) = 8.74, p< 0.0001). c, Social interaction time 24 h after AVSS (t(70) = 1.48, p = 0.14, n = 34–38 mice per group). d, Corner zone time is increased 24 h after AVSS (t(70) = 2.61, p = 0.01, n = 34–38). e, There is no significant effect of AVSS on average velocity with no target present (t(70) = 1.37, p = 0.17, n = 34–38). f, Distance traveled with no target present (t(70) = 2.37, p = 0.02, n = 34–38). g, Reduced social interaction time is driven by females in estrus on the day of AVSS stress acquisition (2-way ANOVA, cycle × stress interaction, F(3,64) = 2.87, p = 0.04, n = 7–12 mice per group). h, Corner zone time is significantly higher in mice that undergo AVSS during estrus compared with unstressed control (2-way ANOVA, cycle × stress interaction, F(3,64) = 3.47, p = 0.02). i, There is no significant effect of estrous phase on velocity following AVSS (2-way ANOVA, cycle × stress interaction, F(3,64) = 0.79, p = 0.51). (****p < 0.0001, *p < 0.05, n.s. = not significant) Error bars indicate mean ± SEM.