behavioralmouseNot explicitly stated in provided text
Objective: Assessment of MAPK signaling pathway contribution to antidepressant-like behavioral response using PD184161 MEK inhibitor in exercising mice
Materials & Equipment Checklist
7 items2 from ConductScience
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
Equipment4
Not explicitly stated • Not mentioned • Not mentioned • Not mentioned
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Product links help support this free resource.
Protocol Steps
1
Provide voluntary exercise access
Mice were given free access to running wheels to establish chronic exercise condition
Not specifiedNot specified
Note: This is the baseline exercise intervention
View evidence from paper
“Mice given free access to running wheels showed antidepressant-like behavior”
2
Assess baseline behavioral responses to exercise
Test exercising mice in learned helplessness, forced-swim test (FST), and tail suspension paradigms to establish antidepressant-like behavioral effects
Note: These tests establish that exercise produces antidepressant-like effects similar to antidepressant drug treatment
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”
3
Assess anxiety-related behavior
Test exercising mice under conditions where locomotor activity was not altered to measure reduced anxiety compared to sedentary controls
Not specifiedNot specified
Note: Anxiety assessment conducted separately from locomotor activity measurements
View evidence from paper
“When tested under conditions where locomotor activity was not altered, exercising mice also showed reduced anxiety compared to sedentary control mice”
4
Perform in situ hybridization analysis
Analyze BDNF mRNA expression in hippocampal subfields following wheel running
Not specifiedNot specified
Note: Measures molecular changes associated with exercise
View evidence from paper
“In situ hybridization analysis showed that BDNF mRNA was increased in specific subfields of hippocampus after wheel running”
5
Test BDNF knockout mice in FST
Test heterozygous BDNF knockout mice in forced-swim test after wheel-running to investigate functional role of BDNF
“Subchronic administration of PD184161 to exercising mice blocked the antidepressant-like behavioral response seen in vehicle-treated exercising mice in the FST”
Subjects / Specimens
Species
mouse
Strain
Not explicitly stated in provided text
Age
Not explicitly stated in provided text
Sex
unknown
Weight
Not explicitly stated in provided text
Study included wild-type mice and heterozygous BDNF knockout mice
