Fig. 1

Assessment of the LPS-induced depressive-like behaviors and hypothalamic inflammatory cytokines in female and male mice. A Experimental timeline and design. B–E Body weight changes (B) and sucrose preference test (C), tail suspension test (D), and forced swimming test (E) results in female and male mice after LPS exposure, n = 10 mice/group. F, G The mRNA (F) and protein (G) levels of hypothalamic cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), n = 5 (F) n = 6 (G) mice/group. All data are presented as means ± SEM and were analyzed by two-way ANOVA (sex × treatment) followed by Bonferroni's post hoc tests. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. LPS lipopolysaccharide-treated group, CON saline-treated group, BW body weight, SPT sucrose preference test, TST tail suspension test, FST forced swimming test