Fig. 2

Tph2 deficiency in rats causes severe growth retardation, together with moderate impairments in somatosensory reflexes and thermoregulatory capabilities, partially aggravated by communal nesting (CN), as compared to standard nesting (SN). (A) Overview of the assessment of developmental milestones, somatosensory reflexes, and thermoregulatory capabilities in Tph2^−/− (KO) and Tph2^+/− (HET) rat pups, as compared to Tph2^+/+ (WT) littermate controls. (B) Exemplary image of WT and KO rat pups on P10. (C) Exemplary thermal image of WT, HET, and KO across P2 to P14 obtained during body temperature measurements. (D) Absolute body weight of WT, HET, and KO rat pups across P2 to P14, depending on nesting condition. (D′) Normalized body weight of HET and KO rat pups across P2 to P14 relative to WT littermate controls, depending on nesting condition. (E) Body temperature before the 10-min isolation period for WT, HET, and KO rat pups across P2 to P14, depending on nesting condition. (F) Body temperature after the 10-min isolation period for WT, HET, and KO rat pups across P2 to P14, depending on nesting condition. (G) Body temperature change during the 10-min isolation period for WT, HET, and KO across P2 to P14, depending on nesting condition. (H) Upright latency in the negative geotaxis assay for WT, HET, and KO rat pups across P2 to P14, depending on nesting condition. SN = standard nesting (blue), CN = communal nesting (orange). P = postnatal day. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Effect of genotype: ***^(black) WT vs. KO p < .001; **^(black) WT vs. KO p < .01. ***^(gray) HET vs. KO p < .001; *^(gray) HET vs. KO p < .01; *^(gray) HET vs. KO p < .05. Effect of nesting: +  +  + p < .001; +  + p < .01; + p < .05. Interaction nesting x genotype: @@ p < .01; @ p < .05. N(WT-SN) = 16, N(HET-SN) = 18, N(KO-SN) = 19, N(WT-CN) = 12, N(HET-CN) = 12, N(KO-CN) = 17