Long-term effects of stress in the elevated plus-maze (EPM).

<p>Animals were exposed for 15 min to the EPM 7 days after initial exposure to the different stressors: none (CTR), cat fur odor (ODOR), immobilization (IMO) or cat fur odor+immobilization (ODOR+IMO). (A) Percent of time spent in the open arm, (B) Open arm entries, (C) Closed arm entries. * p<0.05, ** p<0.01 versus non-odor exposed animals.</p

Distance travelled during the re-exposure to the context.

<p>Starting 8 days after exposure to stress, control (CTR), cat fur odor (ODOR), immobilization (IMO) and cat fur odor+immobilization (ODOR+IMO) rats were re-exposed to the stress-paired context. Panel A shows the distance traveled during the first context re-exposure on day 9, divided by time blocks (5 min each) and Panel B the same parameter during the second context re-exposure on day 10. * p<0.05; *** p<0.001 versus non-odor exposed animals.</p

Acute behavioral response to cat odor.

<p>Behavioral measures recorded on day 1 during the 20 min exposure to an open field containing a clean cloth (CTR) or a cloth impregnated with cat fur odor (ODOR), expressed by time blocks (5 min each). It's shown the (A) Distance traveled (cm) in the whole of the open field, (B) Permanence time (%) in the zone where the cloth was placed (Z1), (C) Permanence time in the intermediate zone (Z2), and (D) Permanence time in the opposite zone to the cloth (Z3). *** p<0.001 versus non-odor exposed animals.</p

Endocrine response to the elevated plus-maze (EPM).

<p>Animals were exposed for 15 min to the EPM 7 days after initial exposure to the different stressors: none (CTR), cat fur odor (ODOR), immobilization (IMO) or cat fur odor+immobilization (ODOR+IMO). Plasma ACTH and Corticosterone responses to the EPM were measured. Basal levels taken after the handling period were 20±1 pg/ml for ACTH and 0.9±0.2 µg/dl for corticosterone. No significant differences between groups were found.</p

Physiological response to the context re-exposure.

<p>Plasma (A) ACTH and (B) Corticosterone responses to the 15 min re-exposure to the context on days 9 and 10, for control (CTR), cat fur odor (ODOR), immobilized (IMO) and cat fur odor+immobilized (ODOR+IMO) rats. ⁺ p<0.05, ⁺⁺ p<0.01, ⁺⁺⁺ p<0.001 versus CTR (panel A); * p<0.05 versus non-odor exposed groups (panel B).</p

Time spent in the different zones of the open-field during the re-exposure to the context.

<p>Starting 8 days after exposure to stress, control (CTR), cat fur odor (ODOR), immobilization (IMO) and cat fur odor+immobilization (ODOR+IMO) rats were re-exposed to the stress-paired context. Then, permanence time (%), divided by time blocks (5 min each), was measured on day 9 in (A) the zone where the cloth was placed (Z1), (B) the intermediate zone (Z2), and (C) the zone opposite to the cloth (Z3). The same parameters were again measured on day 10 (panels D–F). ⁺ p<0.05 versus non-IMO animals; * p<0.05, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001 versus non-odor exposed animals.</p

Sign-tracking (ST)–Goal-tracking (GT) score for day 5.

<p>A positive score indicates that ST behavior predominates over GT, whereas a negative score indicates that GT behavior predominates over ST. The results are shown for control (CTR) and early-life stress (ELS) rats of both sexes, exposed to immobilization (IMO) stress or not when adults. ** p < 0.01 versus corresponding CTR; +++ p < 0.001 versus corresponding males. When compared against a “zero” value, the score was only statistically significant for IMO males and females not exposed to ELS ($ p < 0.05; &&& p < 0.001). Means and SEM are shown.</p

Motor activity (cm) inside the chamber for day 1 and 5.

<p>Results are shown for control (CTR) and early-life stress (ELS) rats of both sexes, exposed to immobilization (IMO) stress or not when adults. ** p < 0.01 versus corresponding CTR; + p < 0.05, ++ p < 0.01, +++ p < 0.001 versus corresponding males; && p < 0.01 versus corresponding non-IMO. Means and SEM are shown.</p

Types of maternal behavior.

<p>Distribution of different types of maternal behavior in control (CTR) and early-life stress (ELS) dams during PND 2 to 8.</p

Sign-tracking and goal-tracking behavior in day 1.

<p>Time (s) spent in behavior towards the lever (left panels) and time (s) spent inside the magazine during lever presentation (right panels) for day 1. Results are shown for control (CTR) and early-life stress (ELS) rats of both sexes, exposed to immobilization (IMO) stress or not when adults. && p < 0.01 versus non-IMO. The same scale as in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0190044#pone.0190044.g005" target="_blank">Fig 5</a> is maintained to allow comparisons between days 1 and 5. In the insets, the same results with different scale are provided. Means and SEM are shown.</p