Additive interaction between scopolamine and nitric oxide agents on immobility in the forced swim test but not exploratory activity in the hole-board

Background: An imbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants determines the level of oxidative stress which is implicated in the etiopathogenesis of various neuropsychiatric disorders including depression. Therefore, treatment with antioxidants could potentially improve the balance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of astaxanthin, a potential antioxidant, to reduce reserpine-induced depression in BALB/c mice (Mus musculus). Methods: On the behavioral level, antidepressant property of astaxanthin (50 mg/kg, orally) on reserpine (2 mg/kg, subcutaneously) induced depressed mice was evaluated by Forced Swim Test (FST) and Tail Suspension Test (TST). In the biochemical level, the ability of astaxanthin to mitigate reserpine-induced oxidative stress was evaluated by the measurement of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in brain, liver and plasma samples. On the other hand, the efficiency of astaxanthin to replenish glutathione depletion and antioxidant enzyme activity augmentation in the same samples were also investigated. Results: Astaxanthin was able to lower reserpine induced immobility time significantly (p<0.05) in FST and TST. Mice treated with astaxanthin showed significantly (p<0.05) low level of oxidative stress markers such as Malondialdehyde (MDA), Nitric Oxide (NO). Consistently, the level of reduced Glutathione (GSH), and the activity of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and catalase were augmented due to the oral administration of astaxanthin. Conclusion: This study suggests that astaxanthin reduces reserpine-induced oxidative stress and therefore might be effective in treating oxidative stress associated depression.

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The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior

Journal of Visualized Experiments ◽

10.3791/52587 ◽

2015 ◽

Cited By ~ 82

Author(s):

Roni Yankelevitch-Yahav ◽

Motty Franko ◽

Avrham Huly ◽

Ravid Doron

Keyword(s):

Forced Swim Test ◽

Swim Test ◽

Forced Swim

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Low-dose irradiation reduces forced swim test-induced immobility and oxidative stress in mice

Free Radical Biology and Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.12.425 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 165 ◽

pp. 56-57

Author(s):

Shota Naoe ◽

Takahiro Kataoka ◽

Hina Shuto ◽

Junki Yano ◽

Tetsuya Nakada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Low Dose ◽

Forced Swim Test ◽

Swim Test ◽

Dose Irradiation ◽

Forced Swim ◽

And Oxidative Stress

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Standardised ginseng extract G115® potentiates the antidepressant-like properties of fluoxetine in the forced swim test

Acta Neuropsychiatrica ◽

10.1017/neu.2021.2 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Dylan J. Terstege ◽

Debra S. MacDonald ◽

R. Andrew Tasker

Keyword(s):

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Forced Swim Test ◽

Ginseng Root ◽

Group Differences ◽

Post Mortem ◽

Ginseng Extract ◽

Significant Group ◽

Swim Test ◽

Forced Swim ◽

Plus Maze

Abstract Objective: Ginsenosides, biologically active components of the root of Panax ginseng, have been reported to have therapeutic benefits in a number of disease states including psychiatric conditions such as major depressive disorder. Our objective was to determine if a standardised commercial ginseng extract, G115®, could reduce the signs of behavioural despair commonly observed in animal models of depression either alone or in combination with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (N = 51) were divided into four groups: vehicle control, G115® ginseng root extract, fluoxetine and fluoxetine plus G115®. Rats were trained to voluntarily consume treatments twice daily for 14 days and were then tested in an open field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM) and forced swim test (FST). Post-mortem hippocampal and prefrontal cortex tissue was analysed for expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) by western blot. Results: One-way Analysis of Variance revealed no significant group differences in the OF or plus-maze performance on any variable examined. In the FST, fluoxetine significantly reduced immobility time and increased latency to immobility. The effects of fluoxetine were further significantly potentiated by co-administration of G115®. Post-mortem tissue analysis revealed significant group differences in BDNF expression in the left hippocampus and left prefrontal cortex without any accompanying changes in TrkB expression. Conclusions: We conclude that oral G115® significantly potentiates the antidepressant-like effect of fluoxetine in the FST in the absence of potentially confounding effects on locomotion and anxiety.

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Profile of a short-acting κ-antagonist, LY2795050, on self-grooming behaviors, forced swim test and locomotor activity: sex comparison in mice

Journal of Psychopharmacology ◽

10.1177/0269881121996883 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 026988112199688

Author(s):

Eduardo R Butelman ◽

Caroline Baynard ◽

Bryan D McElroy ◽

Thomas E Prisinzano ◽

Mary Jeanne Kreek

Keyword(s):

Locomotor Activity ◽

Forced Swim Test ◽

Male And Female ◽

Short Acting ◽

Swim Test ◽

Central Nervous System Dysfunction ◽

Forced Swim ◽

Males And Females ◽

The Impact ◽

Κ Receptor

Background: Novel short-acting κ(kappa)-opioid receptor selective antagonists are translational tools to examine the impact of the κ-receptor/dynorphin system in assays related to central nervous system dysfunction (e.g., substance use disorders, anhedonia and depression). The effects of such compounds have been compared in males and females under very limited conditions. Aims: The goal of this study was to examine potential sex differences in the effects of a κ-agonist and a short-acting κ-antagonist in an ethologically relevant test of anhedonia, the “splash test” of self-grooming, and also in the forced swim test and in locomotor activity. Methods: We examined the dose-dependence of grooming deficits caused by the κ-agonist U50,488 (0.1–3.2 mg/kg intraperitoneal (i.p.)) in gonadally intact adult male and female C57BL/6J mice. We then compared the effects of the short-acting κ-antagonist LY2795050 ((3-chloro-4-(4-(((2S)-2-pyridin-3-ylpyrrolidin-1-yl)methyl) phenoxy)benzamide)); 0.032–0.1 mg/kg i.p.) in blocking grooming deficits caused by U50,488 (3.2 mg/kg). The effects of LY2795050 were also studied in the forced swim test (FST). The effects of LY2795050 in blocking the locomotor depressant effects of U50,488 (10 mg/kg) were also studied. Results: U50,488 produced dose-dependent grooming deficits in male and female mice, and LY2795050 prevented these effects. In contrast, LY2795050 decreased immobility in the FST in males at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg, but not in females, up to a dose of 0.32 mg/kg. Also, LY2795050 (0.32 mg/kg) prevented and also reversed the locomotor-depressant effects of U50,488 (10 mg/kg), in males and females. Conclusions: This study further implicates the κ-receptor system in ethologically relevant aspects of anhedonia, and confirms sexual dimorphism in some behavioral effects of novel κ-antagonists.

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