Figure 7

Phenserine treatment results in partial recovery of CRS-induced deficits in motivation. (a) Phenserine improves the CRS-induced saccharin preference deficit. (b) Phenserine improves the CRS-induced deficit in nesting behavior. (c) No change in muscle strength in CRS-exposed animals as determined by time the animal is able to hang from a wire rod. (d) Motivational drive to approach an appetitive stimulus is decreased by CRS, but partially rescued by phenserine administration. Habituation to the smell of a water-dipped Q-tip was measured over the course of three 3 min presentations by measuring time spent sniffing. Dishabituation and then habituation to a novel scent was assessed by measuring the time spent sniffing an imitation-vanilla dipped Q-tip for three consecutive 3 minute presentations and, lastly, an estrous urine dipped Q-tip. All groups showed normal habituation and dishabituation curves in response to the 3 stimuli. (e) Total time sniffing on the water smell is slightly decreased by CRS exposure. (f) Total time sniffing on the vanilla smell is slightly decreased in CRS-exposed animals administered phenserine. (g) Total time sniffing on estrous urine is robustly decreased by CRS exposure, but significantly improved by phenserine administration.