Shuttle Box Escape Test
Objective: Assessment of escape deficit induced by uncontrollable tail shock in sedentary versus physically active rats, measuring learned helplessness behaviors
This is a Shuttle Box Escape Test protocol using rat as the model organism. The procedure involves 6 procedural steps, 3 equipment items. Extracted from a 2003 paper published in Journal of Neuroscience.
Model and subjects
rat • Not specified • unknown • Not specified • Not specified
Study window
~6 week study window
Core workflow
Physical Activity Intervention • Uncontrollable Tail Shock Exposure • Shuttle Box Escape Test
Primary readouts
- Shuttle box escape deficit (primary measure of learned helplessness)
- Exaggerated conditioned fear responses
- Dorsal raphe nucleus 5-HT neuron activity (c-Fos/5-HT immunohistochemistry)
- 5-HT1A inhibitory autoreceptor mRNA expression in rostral-mid DRN
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Physical Activity Intervention
Rats in the active group were provided with voluntary freewheel running for 6 weeks prior to stress exposure
Note: Sedentary control group did not receive running wheel access
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 received uncontrollable electrical tail shock to induce learned helplessness
Note: Applied to both sedentary and physically active groups
View evidence from paper
“uncontrollable tail shock in sedentary rats”
Shuttle Box Escape Test
Assessment of escape responding in the shuttle box apparatus following tail shock exposure
Note: Measures escape deficit as indicator of learned helplessness
View evidence from paper
“Freewheel running prevented the shuttle box escape deficit and the exaggerated conditioned fear”
Conditioned Fear Assessment
Measurement of exaggerated conditioned fear responses following uncontrollable stress
Note: Compared between sedentary and physically active groups
View evidence from paper
“the exaggerated conditioned fear that is induced by uncontrollable tail shock in sedentary rats”
Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Activity Assessment
Double c-Fos/5-HT immunohistochemistry to measure serotonin neuron activity in rostral-mid DRN following tail shock
Note: Evaluates neural mechanisms underlying behavioral effects
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
Measurement of basal 5-HT1A inhibitory autoreceptor mRNA expression in rostral-mid DRN
Note: Assessed in both sedentary and physically active groups
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”