Figure 5
From: Female mice are more prone to develop an addictive-like phenotype for sugar consumption
Characterization of the sugar deprivation effect (SDE) in male and female mice (Experiment 2b). (A) A period of sugar deprivation significantly increased the sugar intake in both male (white circles, n = 42) and female (grey circles, n = 41) mice, indicative of a sugar deprivation effect (SDE), which lasted 2 days, and was higher in females. (B) During the first day, dissection of the SDE into 4 h intervals showed that intake was strongly pronounced during the first 4 h of sugar re-exposure and lasted for 8 h in both males and females. During the second day, the SDE was stronger in females compared to males, as it lasted for 8 h, while in males it was attenuated in respect to the first day and lasted only 4 h. (C) Females (but not males) showed a very pronounced increase in locomotor activity which lasted 3 days. (D) Dissection of the locomotor activity into 4 h intervals showed that it was strongly pronounced during the first 4 h of sugar re-exposure and lasted not longer than 8 h in females. All data represent means ± SEM. (#, ##, + , + +) indicate P < 0.05; 0.01; 0.005; 0.001 vs male mice; respectively; (*, **, @,@@) indicate P < 0.05; 0.01; 0.005; 0.001 vs corresponding baseline point, respectively.
