Source Paper
Voluntary exercise produces antidepressant and anxiolytic behavioral effects in mice
Catharine H. Duman, Lee Schlesinger, David S. Russell, Ronald S. Duman
Brain Research • 2008
Learned Helplessness Test
Objective: Assessment of antidepressant-like behavioral effects in mice exposed to chronic wheel running using learned helplessness paradigm
This is a Learned Helplessness Test protocol using mouse as the model organism. The procedure involves 6 procedural steps, 1 equipment items, 2 materials. Extracted from a 2008 paper published in Brain Research.
Model and subjects
mouse • Not specified in provided text • unknown • Not specified in provided text • Not specified in provided text
Study window
Estimated timing pending
Core workflow
Provide free access to running wheels • Conduct learned helplessness test • Perform in situ hybridization analysis
Primary readouts
- Antidepressant-like behavior in learned helplessness paradigm
- Antidepressant-like behavior in forced-swim test (FST)
- Antidepressant-like behavior in tail suspension paradigm
- Anxiety-related behavior
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Provide free access to running wheels
Mice were given free access to running wheels for chronic voluntary exercise
Note: This is the chronic exercise intervention condition
View evidence from paper
“Mice given free access to running wheels showed antidepressant-like behavior in learned helplessness, forced-swim (FST) and tail suspension paradigms.”
Conduct learned helplessness test
Assess antidepressant-like behavioral effects using learned helplessness paradigm
Note: One of three behavioral paradigms used to assess antidepressant-like effects
View evidence from paper
“Mice given free access to running wheels showed antidepressant-like behavior in learned helplessness, forced-swim (FST) and tail suspension paradigms.”
Perform in situ hybridization analysis
Analyze BDNF mRNA expression in specific subfields of hippocampus following wheel running
Note: Conducted to investigate potential mechanisms of exercise-induced behavioral changes
View evidence from paper
“In situ hybridization analysis showed that BDNF mRNA was increased in specific subfields of hippocampus after wheel running.”
Test BDNF knockout mice in FST
Conduct forced-swim test in heterozygous BDNF knockout mice after wheel-running to investigate functional role of BDNF
Note: Compared responses between wild-type and BDNF heterozygous knockout mice
View evidence from paper
“We tested mice heterozygous for a deletion of the BDNF gene in the FST after wheel-running. Exercising wild-type mice showed the expected antidepressant-like behavioral response in the FST but exercise was ineffective in improving FST performance in heterozygous BDNF knockout mice.”
Administer MEK inhibitor PD184161
Provide subchronic administration of PD184161 to exercising mice to block MAPK signaling pathway
Note: Used to investigate functional contribution of BDNF signaling pathway
View evidence from paper
“Subchronic administration of PD184161 to exercising mice blocked the antidepressant-like behavioral response seen in vehicle-treated exercising mice in the FST.”
Conduct FST with PD184161-treated mice
Perform forced-swim test on exercising mice treated with PD184161 or vehicle control
Note: Compared antidepressant-like behavioral responses between vehicle-treated and PD184161-treated exercising mice
View evidence from paper
“Subchronic administration of PD184161 to exercising mice blocked the antidepressant-like behavioral response seen in vehicle-treated exercising mice in the FST.”