Modified Porsolt Swim Test
Objective: Assessment of behavioral activation, arousal, and agitation in a stressful aquatic environment following CRF infusion into the locus coeruleus
This is a Modified Porsolt Swim Test protocol using Not explicitly stated as the model organism. The procedure involves 5 procedural steps, 3 equipment items, 1 materials. Extracted from a 1990 paper published in Journal of Neuroscience.
Model and subjects
Not explicitly stated • Not explicitly stated • unknown • Not explicitly stated • Not explicitly stated
Study window
Estimated timing pending
Core workflow
CRF infusion into locus coeruleus • Photocell cage assessment • Modified Porsolt swim test
Primary readouts
- Nonambulatory spontaneous motor activity in photocell cages
- Ambulatory (locomotor) activity in photocell cages
- Floating behavior in modified Porsolt swim test (decreased floating indicates behavioral activation)
- Time spent in darkened compartment in open field
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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CRF infusion into locus coeruleus
Bilateral infusion of corticotropin-releasing factor into the locus coeruleus at specified doses
Note: Doses tested: 1-100 ng for anxiogenic assessment, 10 ng for modified Porsolt swim test, 100 ng for photocell cage assessment
View evidence from paper
“infusion of CRF into the LC (100 ng) significantly increased nonambulatory spontaneous motor activity; infusion of CRF (10 ng) into the LC”
Photocell cage assessment
Measure nonambulatory spontaneous motor activity and ambulatory (locomotor) activity following CRF infusion
Note: 100 ng CRF dose used for this test
View evidence from paper
“nonambulatory spontaneous motor activity measured in photocell cages; ambulatory (i.e., locomotor) activity was not altered”
Modified Porsolt swim test
Place animals in stressful aquatic environment and measure behavioral activation through decreased floating behavior
Note: 10 ng CRF dose into LC produced significant behavioral activation; 500 ng dose into lateral ventricle produced similar effects
View evidence from paper
“In the modified Porsolt swim test, which examines arousal and agitation in a stressful situation, significant behavioral activation (i.e., decreased floating) was seen following infusion of CRF (10 ng)”
Open field anxiogenic assessment
Place animals in open field containing small darkened compartment and measure time spent in compartment and exploration behavior
Note: CRF doses of 1-100 ng tested; measured time in compartment, time exploring outside, and time in inner squares
View evidence from paper
“Infusion or CRF into the LC (1–100 ng) significantly increased the time spent in the compartment and decreased the amount of time spent exploring”
Biochemical analysis
Measure norepinephrine metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol concentration in forebrain projection areas following bilateral CRF infusion into locus coeruleus
Note: Measured in amygdala and posterior hypothalamus
View evidence from paper
“Bilateral infusion of CRF into the LC produced significant increases in the concentration of the norepinephrine metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol in such forebrain projection areas of the LC as the amygdala and posterior hypothalamus”