Fig. 1

Behavioral characterization of HMBS-deficient mice. 24 h mobility patterns in a male and b female HMBS-deficient (KI) and wildtype (WT) control mice. Assessment of depression-like behavior in c SPT (% sucrose preference), d NSF (latency until first bite) without alterations in e body weight loss during food deprivation. f Behavioral despair in the TST (% of time spent immobile). Examination of anxiety-like behavior in g LD (% of time in light compartment) and h EPM (% of entries into open arms). All values are presented as mean ± SEM; n = 6–19 per group. Statistical significances displayed refer to genotype effects (*) and sex effects (∆) resulting from repeated measure and 2-way ANOVA. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001; HMBS, hydroxymethylbilane synthase; SPT, sucrose preference test; NSF, novelty suppressed feeding; TST, tail suspension test; LD, light/dark box; EPM, elevated plus maze