Forced Swim Test
Objective: Behavioral test of depression in which immobility time is measured to assess antidepressant-like effects of VGF
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Equipment1
Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not specified
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Protocol Steps
Forced Swim Test baseline measurement
Mice are subjected to the forced swim test paradigm to establish baseline VGF expression and depression-like behavior
Note: VGF was downregulated in the hippocampus after forced swim test paradigm
View evidence from paper
“VGF was downregulated in the hippocampus after both the learned helplessness and forced swim test (FST) paradigms”
VGF infusion into hippocampus
VGF is infused directly into the hippocampus of mice that have been subjected to forced swim test
Note: Infusion is performed post-FST exposure
View evidence from paper
“VGF infusion in the hippocampus of mice subjected to FST reduced the time spent immobile for up to 6 d”
Measure immobility time
Quantify the time spent immobile by mice during forced swim test following VGF infusion
Note: Immobility time is the primary outcome measure for antidepressant-like effects
View evidence from paper
“VGF infusion in the hippocampus of mice subjected to FST reduced the time spent immobile for up to 6 d”