Forced Swim Test
Objective: Measurement of depressive-like behavior in response to ghrelin administration or calorie restriction using the forced swim test
This is a Forced Swim Test protocol using mouse as the model organism. The procedure involves 3 procedural steps, 1 equipment items, 1 materials. Extracted from a 2008 paper published in Nature Neuroscience.
Model and subjects
mouse • Not explicitly specified in provided text • unknown • Not explicitly specified in provided text • Not explicitly specified in provided text
Study window
Estimated timing pending
Core workflow
Ghrelin administration via subcutaneous injection • Calorie restriction treatment • Forced swim test performance
Primary readouts
- Depressive-like behavior
- Antidepressant-like responses
- Behavioral changes in response to ghrelin administration
- Behavioral changes in response to calorie restriction
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Ghrelin administration via subcutaneous injection
Ghrelin was administered to mice through subcutaneous injections to increase ghrelin levels
Note: This was one of two methods used to increase ghrelin levels; the other was calorie restriction
View evidence from paper
“increasing ghrelin levels, through subcutaneous injections or calorie restriction, produced anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like responses”
Calorie restriction treatment
Calorie restriction was applied as an alternative method to increase ghrelin levels
Note: Calorie restriction naturally increases endogenous ghrelin levels
View evidence from paper
“increasing ghrelin levels, through subcutaneous injections or calorie restriction, produced anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like responses”
Forced swim test performance
Mice were subjected to the forced swim test to measure depressive-like behavior
Note: Test was used to assess antidepressant-like responses following ghrelin treatment or calorie restriction
View evidence from paper
“forced swim test produced anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like responses in the elevated plus maze and forced swim test”