Schedule of experimental procedures.

Abstract

<p>Mice were divided into non-stressed WT mice, stressed WT mice, non-stressed CD4⁺CD25⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells depleted mice, stressed CD4⁺CD25⁺ Treg cells depleted mice; from day 1 to 22, the stressed WT mice and stressed CD4⁺CD25⁺ Treg cells depleted mice received daily immobilization stress for 4 h and then were moved back to the home cage (three mice to a cage). An anti-CD25 antibody (Ab) was injected intraperitoneally once 24 h before CIS and then on the 8^th day after the first CIS. On day 22, EPM, FST and TST were conducted in the afternoon (22 day) to determine depression and anxiety related behaviors after the previous day’s morning CIS.</p