Effects of cholinomimetics, cholinolytics and atypical antidepressants in the behavioral despair test in the rat.

The effect of some cholinolytics, cholinomimetics and atypical antidepressants on behavior of rats forced to swim (in the "behavioral despair test") was investigated. In addition, the relation between the test performance and the inborn level of exploratory and locomotor activities was studied. Cholinomimetics prolonged, while cholinolytics and antidepressants shortened the immobility phase ("despair reaction"). The "despair reaction" was less pronounced in rats with high motor exploratory activity level.