Abstract
Rationale: The forced-swimming test (FST) is utilized to reproduce passive coping responses to stress that may model a relevant aspect of human depression in rodent species. Animals showing high levels of passive responses to the FST are assumed to model pathologically depressed individuals. Objectives: We evaluated sensitivity of FST-induced behavioral responses to the interaction between genetic and environmental influences. Methods: Behavioral responses to FST were evaluated in naive mice of the C57BL/6 and DBA/2 strains, in mice of both strains pre-exposed to FST 14 days before test, and in FST-experienced animals subsequently exposed to 12 days of stress experience (food restriction). Results: C57BL/6 mice are characterized by high propensity to adopt passive coping responses in the FST. Moreover, stress enhances FST-induced immobility in mice of the C57BL/6 strain but reduces this response in DBA/2 mice. Finally, FST-induced immobility in C57BL/6 mice is reduced by chronic treatment with clinically effective antidepressants. Conclusions: These results support the view that behavioral and neural responses to FST exhibited by C57BL/6 mice can be usefully exploited by pre-clinical research on depression.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 138-143 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Psychopharmacology |
Volume | 164 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2002 |
Keywords
- Amphetamine
- Clomipramine
- Depression
- Desipramine
- Diathesis stress
- FST
- Genotype
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology