Freewheel Running
Objective: Determine the effects of 6 weeks of voluntary freewheel running on learned helplessness behaviors, dorsal raphe nucleus serotonin neuron activity during uncontrollable stress, and basal expression of 5-HT1A autoreceptor mRNA
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
1 item available from ConductScience
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Product links help support this free resource.
Protocol Steps
Freewheel running intervention
Rats undergo 6 weeks of voluntary freewheel running as the exercise intervention condition
Note: This is the primary intervention being tested against sedentary control conditions
View evidence from paper
“The current study determined the effects of 6 weeks of voluntary freewheel running on LH behaviors”
Uncontrollable tail shock exposure
Rats are exposed to uncontrollable tail shock to induce learned helplessness and measure stress-induced dorsal raphe serotonin neuron activity
Note: This stressor is used to assess whether freewheel running prevents learned helplessness behaviors
View evidence from paper
“Freewheel running prevented the shuttle box escape deficit and the exaggerated conditioned fear that is induced by uncontrollable tail shock”
Shuttle box escape test
Measure escape responding and learned helplessness behavior using shuttle box apparatus
Note: Primary behavioral outcome measure for learned helplessness
View evidence from paper
“Freewheel running prevented the shuttle box escape deficit and the exaggerated conditioned fear”
Conditioned fear assessment
Measure exaggerated conditioned fear responses as an indicator of learned helplessness
Note: Secondary behavioral outcome measure
View evidence from paper
“Freewheel running prevented the shuttle box escape deficit and the exaggerated conditioned fear that is induced by uncontrollable tail shock”
Double c-Fos/5-HT immunohistochemistry
Perform double immunohistochemistry to identify and quantify tail shock-induced activity of serotonin neurons in the rostral-mid dorsal raphe nucleus
Note: Measures neural activity of 5-HT neurons in response to uncontrollable stress
View evidence from paper
“Double c-Fos/5-HT immunohistochemistry revealed that physical activity attenuated tail shock-induced activity of 5-HT neurons in the rostral–mid DRN”
5-HT1A autoreceptor mRNA expression analysis
Measure basal expression of 5-HT1A inhibitory autoreceptor mRNA in the rostral-mid dorsal raphe nucleus
Note: Assesses potential neurochemical mechanisms underlying the protective effects of freewheel running
View evidence from paper
“Six weeks of freewheel running also resulted in a basal increase in 5-HT1A inhibitory autoreceptor mRNA in the rostral–mid DRN”