Source Paper
Lipopolysaccharide induces delayed FosB/DeltaFosB immunostaining within the mouse extended amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus, that parallel the expression of depressive-like behavior
François Frenois, Maïté Moreau, Jason O’Connor, Marc Lawson, Charlotte Micon et al.
Psychoneuroendocrinology • 2007
Tail Suspension Test
Objective: Assessment of depressive-like behavior by measuring immobility duration in mice at 6 and 24 hours post-LPS injection
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Protocol Steps
LPS Administration
Inject mice with lipopolysaccharide via intraperitoneal route
Note: Dose: 830 μg/kg intraperitoneal injection
View evidence from paper
“lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 830 μg/kg, intraperitoneal)”
First Behavioral Testing (6 hours post-LPS)
Conduct tail suspension test and motor activity assessment in new cage at 6 hours post-LPS injection when sickness behavior is expected to be maximal
Note: At this timepoint, sickness behavior is expected to be maximal and may confound depressive-like behavior measurements
View evidence from paper
“LPS-induced depressive-like behavior was dissociated from LPS-induced sickness by testing mice either at 6 h (at which time sickness was expected to be maximal)”
Second Behavioral Testing (24 hours post-LPS)
Conduct tail suspension test, forced swim test, and motor activity assessment in new cage at 24 hours post-LPS injection when sickness is expected to be minimal
Note: At this timepoint, sickness behavior is expected to be minimal and not bias measurement of depressive-like behavior
View evidence from paper
“or at 24 h post-LPS (at which time sickness was expected to be minimal and not to bias the measurement of depressive-like behavior)”
Measure Immobility Duration in Tail Suspension Test
Record duration of immobility during tail suspension test as measure of depressive-like behavior
Note: Immobility duration increased at both 6 and 24 hours post-LPS compared to saline control
View evidence from paper
“the duration of immobility in the tail suspension test was increased at both 6 and 24 h”
Measure Motor Activity in Novel Cage
Assess motor activity by placing mice in new cage and measuring activity levels
Note: Motor activity decreased at 6 hours but not at 24 hours post-LPS
View evidence from paper
“LPS decreased motor activity in a new cage at 6 but not at 24 h”
Conduct Forced Swim Test
Perform forced swim test at 24 hours post-LPS to confirm depressive-like behavior dissociation from motor activity changes
Note: Conducted at 24 hours post-LPS to confirm dissociation between motor activity and depressive-like behavior
View evidence from paper
“This dissociation between decreased motor activity and depressive-like behavior was confirmed at 24 h post-LPS in the forced swim test”
Measure Sucrose Consumption
Assess anhedonia by measuring sucrose consumption at 24 and 48 hours post-LPS
Note: LPS decreased sucrose consumption despite normal food and water consumption at these timepoints
View evidence from paper
“LPS also decreased sucrose consumption at 24 and 48 h, despite normal food and water consumption by that time”