Forced Swim Test
Objective: Assess antidepressant-induced behavioral effects and responses to antidepressant drugs in transgenic mice using the forced swim test
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
Equipment1
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Protocol Steps
Forced Swim Test Administration
Transgenic mice were subjected to the forced swim test to assess their behavioral response to antidepressant treatment
Note: Test was performed on trkB.T1-overexpressing transgenic mice, BDNF +/- heterozygous null mice, and neurotrophin-3 +/- mice to compare antidepressant responsiveness across genotypes
View evidence from paper
“trkB.T1-overexpressing transgenic mice, which show reduced trkB activation in brain, as well as heterozygous BDNF null (BDNF +/- ) mice, were resistant to the effects of antidepressants in the forced swim test”
Antidepressant Treatment
Mice received acute and chronic antidepressant treatment prior to or during behavioral testing
Note: Both acute and chronic antidepressant administration were tested to evaluate trkB activation patterns
View evidence from paper
“acute as well as chronic antidepressant treatment induced autophosphorylation and activation of trkB in cerebral cortex”