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Fig. 6 | Journal of Neuroinflammation

Fig. 6

From: Activation of P2X7 receptor and NLRP3 inflammasome assembly in hippocampal glial cells mediates chronic stress-induced depressive-like behaviors

Fig. 6

P2X7 receptor agonist administration induces depressive-like behaviors. a–f ATP or BzATP causes depressive-like behaviors which are the same as chronic unpredictable stress (CUS). a Experimental paradigm. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal + saline (n = 11), CUS + saline (n = 12), normal + ATP (n = 12), normal + BzATP (n = 12). All rats in CUS group were exposed to CUS with vehicle administration for 3 weeks; meanwhile, rats in ATP or BzATP group were administered with ATP (100 nmol/rat) or BzATP (10 nmol/rat), respectively, per day for 3 weeks. b A schematic representation of hippocampi sections. Bars indicate the placement of the guide cannulas (3.8 mm anteroposterior; ±3 mm mediolateral from bregma; 3.5 mm dorsoventral from the skull). Behavioral indicators were then assessed, including (c) rearing numbers in open-field test (OFT) (F 3,46  = 11.502, p < 0 .01), (d) total distance traveled in open-field test (OFT) (F 3,46  = 2.971, p < 0.05), (e) struggling time in forced swimming test (FST) (F 3,46  = 20.868, p < 0.01), and (f) immobility time in forced swimming test (FST) (F 3,46  = 24.357, p < 0.01) All data are expressed as the mean ± SEM. # p < 0.05, ## p < 0.01 compared to normal rats

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