Fig 1.
Change of mean body weight from baseline to day 120.
Data are presented in the CMS+fluoxetine (0.042mg/g once daily dissolved in 0.5ml distilled water per rat) group (n = 9), the CMS+vehicle (0.5ml distilled water per rat once daily) group (n = 9) and the control group (n = 6) respectively. Paired-sample t-test was used for the statistical analysis. ***p<0.001, **p<0.01 vs. baseline. CMS = chronic mild stress.
Fig 2.
Comparison of time and group difference of behavioral test scores.
A) Mean percentage of sucrose preference at baseline and on day120 in the CMS+fluoxetine group (n = 9), CMS+vehicle group (n = 9) and control group (n = 6) by paired-sample t-test. *p<0.05 vs. baseline. B) The effect of FST for CMS+fluoxetine group, CMS+vehicle group and control in the mean immobility time recorded on day 120 by one-way ANOVA. Bars represent a mean ± standard error. CMS = chronic mild stress; FST = force swim test; ANOVA = analysis of variance.
Table 1.
Comparison of mean plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines from day 0 to day 120.
Fig 3.
Change of mean concentration of inflammatory cytokines in plasma from baseline to day 60, day 90, and day 120.
A) IL-1β; B) IL-6; C) IL-17; D) TNF-α. Data are presented in the CMS+fluoxetine group (n = 9), CMS+vehicle group (n = 9) and control group (n = 6). Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed to investigate the time effect. *p<0.05 vs. baseline.
Table 2.
Comparison of mean levels of inflammatory cytokines in the brain on day 120.
Fig 4.
The effects of administration of fluoxetine and vehicle on IL-1β levels (day 120) in the brains of rats subjected to an animal model of chronic mild stress.
Bars represent a mean+standard error. Control rats were not subjected to any stress or treatment. *p<0.05 vs. CMS+vehicle group according to Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Mann-Whitney U test.