Augmentation of the behavioural effects of desipramine by repeated immobilization stress.

The present report provides evidence that repeated immobilization stress (RIS) induced a noradrenergic-dependent depressive-like behaviour and an augmented behavioural response to desipramine (DMI), a noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (NRI), in the forced swimming test (FST). The present results show that RIS decreased the baseline of climbing behaviour in the FST. Whereas subchronic administration of DMI (10mg/kg, three times in a 24h period) induced a significantly higher increase in climbing behaviour on repeatedly stressed rats compared to controls.