Fig. 4

Decreased Vrk2 expression in the hippocampus results in depressive-like behaviors in mice. A Experimental timeline and schematic diagram of ventral hippocampal virus injection. B The shRNA mediated Vrk2 knockdown (KD) efficiency in the ventral hippocampus. n = 3 mice/group. P = 0.0211. C Open field test. No effects were found in the total distance (P = 0.0907) and time spent in center (P = 0.219). Ctrl, n = 20. Vrk2-KD, n = 20. D Elevated plus maze. Decreasing trend in the percentage of time (P = 0.0698) that Vrk2-KD mice entering the open arms while the distance ratio (P = 0.405) into the open arms remains constant. Ctrl, n = 20. Vrk2-KD, n = 20. E Rotarod test. Ctrl, n = 20. Vrk2-KD, n = 20. P = 0.284. F Sucrose preference test. The percentage of sucrose preference (P < 0.0001) significantly decreased in Vrk2-KD mice. Ctrl, n = 20. Vrk2-KD, n = 20. G Tail suspension test. The immobility time (P = 0.351) was no difference, but the curling time (P = 0.0079) was significantly decreased in Vrk2-KD mice. Ctrl, n = 20. Vrk2-KD, n = 20. ^#P < 0.1,* P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001 (two-tailed t-test). Error bars indicate mean ± SD