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The forced‐swim test in juvenile rats: A model to screen antidepressant efficacy for childhood and adolescent depression
Author(s) -
Reed Abbey L,
Happe H Kevin,
Petty Frederick,
Bylund David B
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.906.3
Subject(s) - behavioural despair test , tranylcypromine , antidepressant , juvenile , depression (economics) , animal models of depression , psychology , tricyclic antidepressant , serotonin reuptake inhibitor , tricyclic , fluoxetine , pharmacology , monoamine oxidase , medicine , serotonin , psychiatry , chemistry , biology , anxiety , receptor , genetics , macroeconomics , economics , biochemistry , enzyme
We tested 21‐day old male Sprague‐Dawley rats in the forced‐swim test (FST) to screen compounds for antidepressant efficacy. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) prevented behavioral despair, similar to results obtained with adult rats. Treatment with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) did not prevent behavioral despair in day 21 rats. This is in contrast to adult studies which show TCAs as effective for decreasing behavioral despair in the FST. The drug response in juvenile rats for the FST is similar to the response of children and adolescents to antidepressant treatment, as they respond to SSRIs but not TCAs. Novel compounds shown to have antidepressant‐like effects in adult animal models of depression have been screened using this newly developed model for possible activity in childhood and adolescent depression. The monoamine oxidase inhibitor, tranylcypromine, was able to decrease immobility and increase swimming behavior in juveniles. In adults tranylcypromine decreases immobility but increases both swimming and climbing behaviors. Other compounds effective at decreasing immobility in the adult FST were not effective in the juvenile FST. Screening drugs for antidepressant effects in the juvenile FST can narrow the focus of further efforts to develop compounds that would be useful for treating childhood and adolescent depression. Support: MH66959(DBB); HFF(HKH).