Fig. 4

Klf7^−/− mice show autistic behavior. A–F Three chamber experiment. A WT mice (n = 10) and klf7^−/− mice (n = 8) showed no obvious preference for left and right chambers. B While WT mice (n = 10) spent more time in the chamber with a mouse, klf7^−/− mice (n = 8) didn’t show obvious preference for the chambers with and without a mouse. C Total interaction time spent on the chamber with a mouse and the empty chamber by klf7^−/− mice (n = 8) is equal, while the interaction time spent on the chamber with a mouse by klf7^−/− mice (n = 8) is significantly lower than that spent by WT mice (n = 10). D WT mice (n = 10) spent more time in the strange-mouse chamber, while klf7^−/− mice (n = 8) didn’t show preference for the strange-mouse chamber and familiar-mouse chamber. E Klf7^−/− mice (n = 8) spent significantly-less time interacting with a strange mouse as compared to WT mice (n = 10). F Representative movement tracks in three-chamber experiment. G, H Klf7^−/− mice (n = 8) showed obvious repetitive behaviors. G Klf7^−/− mice (n = 8) spent significantly-more time in self-grooming. H Klf7^−/− mice (n = 8) preferred the original target arm rather than exploring the novel target arm in the Y maze spontaneous selection experiment, as indicated by the ratio of entry into the original target arm in 10 trials. I–L Open field tests. I Klf7^−/− mice (n = 8) traveled significantly longer distances than WT mice (n = 10). J Klf7^−/− mice (n = 8) traveled significantly-faster than WT mice (n = 10). K Klf7^−/− mice (n = 8) spent significantly-shorter time on resting than WT mice (n = 10) did. L Representative tracks in the open field test. M–P Morris water maze test. M Spatial learning ability assessed by the latency to locate platform. Klf7^−/− mice (n = 8) spent more time on locating platform on the 5 training days, indicating impaired spatial learning ability. N In contrast to WT mice (n = 10) spending more time in the target region in the probe test, klf7^−/− mice (n = 8) didn’t explore the target region. T, target region; R, region to the right of the target right; L, region to the left of the target region; O, region opposite the target region. O WT mice (n = 10) crossed the platform more frequently than klf7^−/− mice (n = 8). P Representative tracks in the Morris water maze. The data are presented as the mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis (P^* < 0.05, P^** < 0.01, P^*** < 0.001 and ns: no significance) in (A–E) and (N) were performed by two-way ANOVA test. Statistical analysis (P^* < 0.05 and P^** < 0.01) in (G–H, I–K) and (O) were performed by unpaired t test. Statistical analysis (P^** < 0.01 and P^*** < 0.001) in (M) were performed by one-way ANOVA test