Fig. 2

Female mice display an exacerbated stress response compared to male mice. A Open field test showing physically stressed mice exhibited significantly higher anxiety levels when compared to the controls, as illustrated by their reluctance to explore or spend more time in the central area of the OFT, with the female stressed mice showing greater anxiety. B Dark–Light test revealed female mice exposed to physical stress exhibited significantly higher anxiety levels (higher dark/light ratios) when compared to other groups, as explained by their hesitation to spend more time in the light chamber of the LDT. C Elevated plus maze revealed female mice subjected to physical stress displayed significantly increased anxiety levels compared to those in stressed males, as evidenced by their hesitation to spend more time in the open arms of the EPM. D Interleukin 1β (IL1β) levels in the hippocampus revealed stressed female mice showed aberrantly higher IL1β activity compared to those in stressed male mice. E Female mice subjected to physical stress showed aberrantly higher IL6 levels in the hippocampus relative to their male counterparts. All data are presented as mean with 95% CI (n = 17/group); ***p < 0.001, ns (not significant); two-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc test