Fig. 2

Pre-weaning enrichment does not affect GC recruitment during object exploration. A Schematic of the novel object exploration (NOE) experiment. B Representative video tracking traces of an individual SH and EE mouse performing the NOE (SH-NOE and EE-NOE respectively). C Average of the total distance in meters and D total time exploring the objects is reported. Two-sample t-test shows non-significant (ns) differences. E, G Representative images of NPAS4 and cFOS expression in the DG of SH-NOE, EE-NOE and control SH and EE mice kept in their home cages (HC) during the time of the experiment (e.g., mice that did not perform the NOE task: SH-HC and EE-HC respectively). F, H Expression of cFOS and NPAS4 was assessed 70 min following the NOE task and quantifications show an increased cFOS + and NPAS4 + GCs in SH-NOE and EE-NOE groups compared to their HC littermate (SH-HC and EE-HC). Non-significant (ns) differences in the densities of cFOS + and NPAS4 + were found in the EE groups compared to SH groups as shown by two-way ANOVA analysis (NPAS4 p = 0.366, cFOS p = 0.181). Asterisks represent 2-way ANOVA post-hoc comparison *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001. Scale bar in µm. For each bar, the number of animals (on top) and the number of images (on the bottom) used for the quantification are reported. Individual dots represent the mean per animal