Excitatory:inhibitory (E:I) markers in prodromal 5XFAD mice. (A) Representative western blot images for B–I, showing non-adjacent bands originating from the same blot. Analysis of bands from western blots for E:I markers from the hippocampus (B–E) and cortex (F–I) of 5XFAD and wild-type (WT) mice. (B and F) GABA_AR subunits GABA_ARα1 and GABA_ARα3 and corresponding GABA_ARα1/GABA_ARα3 ratio; (C and G) Cl⁻ cotransporters NKCC1 and KCC2 and corresponding NKCC1/KCC2 ratio; (D and H) AMPAR subunits GluA1 and GluA2 and corresponding GluA1/GluA2 ratio; (E and I) NMDAR subunits GluN2A, GluN2B and corresponding GluN2B/GluN2A ratio. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean. n = 8–15 per group. *P < 0.05.