Fig. 1

Physical and psychological stress induces hyper-anxious behavior in mice. A Examination of anxious behavior of stressed and non-stressed control mice using open field test (OFT). Mice exposed to predator odor and physical stress exhibited significantly higher anxiety levels when compared to the controls (Control-vivarium, and Control-arena), as depicted by their hesitation to explore or spend more time in the central area of the OFT. B Light–dark test (LDT) revealed mice exposed to predator odor and restrain stress exhibited significantly higher anxiety levels (dark–light ratios) when compared to the controls, as explained by their reluctance to spend more time in the light chamber of the LDT, with physically stressed mice displaying greater anxious behavior. C Elevated plus maze (EPM) test revealed mice subjected to predator odor, and physical stress displayed significantly increased anxiety levels compared to the controls, as evidenced by their hesitation to spend more time in the open arms of the EPM. D Examination of Interleukin 1β (IL1β) in the hippocampus of mice exposed to predator odor and physical stress showed aberrantly higher IL1β levels compared to the controls. E Examination of Interleukin 6 (IL6) in the hippocampus of mice by ELISA showed that mice exposed to predator odor and physical stress showed aberrantly higher IL6 levels relative to the controls. All data are presented as mean with 95% CI (n = 20–21/group); ***p < 0.001, ns (not significant); one-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc test