Fig. 4

Prenatal levonorgestrel exposure induces autism-like behavior in male offspring (10 weeks old), while there is less of an effect in females. Three-month-old pregnant dams were exposed to LNG (20 μg levonorgestrel), EE (10 μg ethinyl estradiol), LNG/EE (20 μg LNG and 10 μg EE combination), or VEH (vehicle, 5% ethanol in organic sesame oil) through 0.1 ml of subcutaneous daily injection for 21 days until pup delivery. Both male and female offspring were used for autism-like behavior tests at 10 weeks old. a Buried marbles tests, n = 8. b Interaction time, n = 8. Time spent in c open and d closed arms in EPM test, n = 8. Time spent in e central and f peripheral area and g locomotor activity in the open-field test, n = 9. *P < 0.05 vs. VEH group. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM