Fig. 2

Progressively dismissing of social recognition and development of behaviour variants of the TDP-43 cKO mice. a For social interaction test (Session 1), the mean lengths of time (±SEM) the mouse spent in the chamber with the stranger (“Stranger 1”) and in the opposite chamber (“Empty”) are compared in the histograms. For social memory and novelty test (Session II), the mean durations of time (±SEM) in the chamber with the unfamiliar mouse from the sociability phase (“Stranger 1”) and in the opposite chamber with a new unfamiliar mouse (“Stranger 2”) are compared in the histograms. Statistical analysis was done by Two-way ANOVA (N = 8/group) with error bars reported as SEM, P < 0.05 was considered significant. b Light/ dark box test. The latencies of mouse entering the dark box for the first time, the light/dark transition periods, and durations of mouse in the light box were measured for mice of the ages of 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months, respectively, and statistical analysis was done by unpaired t test (N = 12/group) with error bars reported as SEM, P < 0.05 was considered significant. c Morris water maze tests. In the hidden platform test (left panels), the 12-month-old TDP-43 cKO mice had longer latencies to escape onto the hidden platform. Statistical analysis was done in curves by Two way ANOVA (N = 8/group) with error bars reported as SEM, P < 0.05 was considered significant. In the probe trial on the 8th session (right panels), the 12-month-old TDP-43 cKO mice traveled crossed the target, where the hidden platform was previously placed, significantly less times than the Ctrl mice. Statistical analysis was done in the histograms by unpaired t test with error bars reported as SEM. d Accelerated rotarod test. Ctrl and TDP-43 cKO mice were trained at the age of 2 months and then tested monthly on the accelerated rotarod (N = 11~14 in Ctrl group; N = 6~9 in TDP-43 cKO group). The histograms of latencies before falling showed that at 12 months of age, the TDP-43 cKO mice failed to memorize the rotarod running but re-learned right after the second day of training. At the end stage, e.g. older than 16 months, the TDP-43 cKO mice were unable to re-learn the rotarod running. Statistical analysis was done by unpaired t test with error bars reported as SEM, P < 0.05 was considered significant