Source Paper
Kappa opioid receptor antagonism and prodynorphin gene disruption block stress-induced behavioral responses.
Jay P McLaughlin, Monica Marton-Popovici, Charles Chavkin
PubMed • 2003
Forced Swim Test
Objective: Assessment of stress-induced immobility response in mice subjected to repeated forced swimming using a modified Porsolt procedure to evaluate behavioral responses to stress and effects on drug reward sensitivity
This is a Forced Swim Test protocol using mouse as the model organism. The procedure involves 8 procedural steps, 3 equipment items, 2 materials. Extracted from a 2003 paper published in PubMed.
Model and subjects
mouse • C57Bl/6 • unknown • Not specified • Not specified
Study window
Estimated timing pending
Core workflow
Repeated Forced Swim Testing • Measure Stress-Induced Immobility • Measure Stress-Induced Analgesia
Primary readouts
- Stress-induced immobility response duration
- Tail withdrawal latency (stress-induced analgesia)
- Cocaine-conditioned place preference magnitude
- Effects of nor-BNI pretreatment on behavioral responses
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Repeated Forced Swim Testing
Subject C57Bl/6 mice to repeated forced swim testing using a modified Porsolt procedure
Note: This is the stress induction procedure. Transgenic mice with disrupted prodynorphin gene and wild-type littermates serve as comparison groups
View evidence from paper
“C57Bl/6 mice subjected to repeated forced swim testing (FST) using a modified Porsolt procedure at 30°C”
Measure Stress-Induced Immobility
Assess and record stress-induced immobility response following forced swim testing
Note: Immobility is a characteristic stress response measured in this procedure
View evidence from paper
“showed a characteristic stress-induced immobility response”
Measure Stress-Induced Analgesia
Conduct tail withdrawal latency assay to measure stress-induced analgesia
Note: Tail withdrawal latency serves as indicator of stress-induced analgesia
View evidence from paper
“stress-induced analgesia observed with a tail withdrawal latency assay”
Pretreatment with nor-BNI
Administer nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) as pretreatment to block κ opioid receptor
Note: Intraperitoneal injection at 10 mg/kg dose. This treatment blocks stress-induced analgesia and reduces stress-induced immobility
View evidence from paper
“Pretreatment with the κ opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI; 10 mg/kg, i.p.) blocked the stress-induced analgesia and significantly reduced the stress-induced immobility”
Cocaine Conditioning
Condition FST-exposed mice with cocaine in conditioned place preference paradigm
Note: Cocaine administered subcutaneously at 15 mg/kg. Compare responses between stressed and unstressed mice
View evidence from paper
“FST-exposed mice conditioned with cocaine (15 mg/kg, s.c.) showed significant potentiation of place preference”
Measure Cocaine-Conditioned Place Preference
Assess place preference for drug-paired chamber in stressed versus unstressed mice
Note: Measure preference for cocaine-paired chamber. Stressed mice show potentiated preference compared to unstressed controls
View evidence from paper
“FST-exposed mice conditioned with cocaine showed significant potentiation of place preference for the drug-paired chamber over the responses of unstressed mice”
Test nor-BNI Effects on Cocaine CPP
Administer nor-BNI pretreatment and assess effects on stress-induced potentiation of cocaine CPP
Note: nor-BNI pretreatment blocks the stress-induced potentiation of cocaine CPP
View evidence from paper
“nor-BNI pretreatment blocked stress-induced potentiation of cocaine CPP”
Compare Transgenic and Wild-Type Responses
Compare behavioral responses between prodynorphin gene-disrupted transgenic mice and wild-type littermates
Note: Transgenic mice lacking prodynorphin gene show no stress-induced immobility increase, no stress-induced analgesia, and no stress-induced potentiation of cocaine CPP
View evidence from paper
“transgenic mice possessing a disrupted prodynorphin gene showed no increase in immobility or stress-induced analgesia after exposure to repeated FST”