The forced swim test is a rodent behavioral test used for evaluation of antidepressant drugs, antidepressant efficacy of new compounds, and experimental manipulations that are aimed at rendering or preventing depressive-like states. Mice are placed in an inescapable transparent tank that is filled with water and their escape related mobility behavior is measured. The forced swim test is straightforward to conduct reliably and it requires minimal specialized equipment. Successful implementation of the forced swim test requires adherence to certain procedural details and minimization of unwarranted stress to the mice. In the protocol description and the accompanying video, we explain how to conduct the mouse version of this test with emphasis on potential pitfalls that may be detrimental to interpretation of results and how to avoid them. Additionally, we explain how the behaviors manifested in the test are assessed.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3353513 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.3791/3638 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Social group size alters social behavior and dopaminergic and serotonergic systems.
Soc Neurosci
January 2025
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea.
Social behavior is affected by social structure type, but how neural function changes with social type remains unclear. We investigated whether social group size affects social behaviors based on dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) systems. Four-week-old male mice were housed under different social group sizes: one, two, four, and eight mice per cage (1mpc, 2mpc, 4mpc, 8mpc, respectively).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOxidative and Excitatory Neurotoxic Stresses in CRISPR/Cas9-Induced Kynurenine Aminotransferase Knockout Mice: A Novel Model for Despair-Based Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Front Biosci (Landmark Ed)
January 2025
HUN-REN-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, Hungarian Research Network, University of Szeged (HUN-REN-SZTE), Danube Neuroscience Research Laboratory, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary.
Backgrounds: Memory and emotion are especially vulnerable to psychiatric disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is linked to disruptions in serotonin (5-HT) metabolism. Over 90% of the 5-HT precursor tryptophan (Trp) is metabolized via the Trp-kynurenine (KYN) metabolic pathway, which generates a variety of bioactive molecules. Dysregulation of KYN metabolism, particularly low levels of kynurenic acid (KYNA), appears to be linked to neuropsychiatric disorders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntidepressant- and Anxiolytic-like Effects in Mice of Alkaloids from Aerial Parts of Link & Otto.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel)
January 2025
Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro de Nanociencias y Micro y Nanotecnologías, Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos, Av. Luis Enrique Erro S/N, Colonia Zacatenco, Mexico City 07738, Mexico.
Link & Otto, an endemic plant of Mexico, is widely distributed in the central area of the country, mainly in the states of Tlaxcala, Puebla, and the State of Mexico. Ethnobotanical studies in different communities of these states have demonstrated that it is primarily used to treat diabetes and mental illnesses, such as "los nervios" (nerves) and "el ansia" (anxiety); these terms are used in traditional medicine, but it is accepted that they refer to anxiety disorders. This study aimed to validate the traditional use of aerial parts of Link & Otto in treating these illnesses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnxiolytic, Antidepressant, and Anticholinesterase Effects of Essential Oil from (G.Mey.) DC.
Biomolecules
January 2025
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Rede Bionorte, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil.
Aromatic plants are rich sources of essential oils (EOs), recognized for their therapeutic properties due to their diversity of phytochemicals. This study investigated the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of essential oil (MsEO) through inhalation in an animal model and its in vitro anticholinesterase (AChE) activity. The EO was obtained by hydrodistillation, and its volatile constituents were analyzed by GC-MS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnveiling the Mechanisms of a Remission in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)-like Syndrome: The Role of Hippocampal Palmitoyltransferase Expression and Stress Susceptibility.
Biomolecules
January 2025
Research and Education Resource Center, Peoples Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 117198 Moscow, Russia.
Post-translational modifications of proteins via palmitoylation, a thioester linkage of a 16-carbon fatty acid to a cysteine residue, reversibly increases their affinity for cholesterol-rich lipid rafts in membranes, changing their function. Little is known about how altered palmitoylation affects function at the systemic level and contributes to CNS pathology. However, recent studies suggested a role for the downregulation of palmitoyl acetyltransferase (DHHC) 21 gene expression in the development of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)-like syndrome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!