Source Paper
Electroacupuncture promotes BDNF-dependent neurogenesis via microglial reprogramming in a chronic stress model
Zhang L, Wei T, Liu X, Zhang L, Wang D et al.
Chin Med • 2026
Tail Suspension Test
Objective: Assess desperation behaviors by measuring immobility time of mice under uninvited conditions
This is a Tail Suspension Test protocol using mice as the model organism. The procedure involves 4 procedural steps, 2 equipment items, 1 materials. Extracted from a 2026 paper published in Chin Med.
Model and subjects
mice • C57BL/6J • Male • 8-week-old • varied by experiment group
Study window
~3 day study window | ~2.3 hours hands-on
Core workflow
Animal handling and acclimation • Tail preparation and suspension setup • Suspension test
Primary readouts
- Duration of immobility during last 4 minutes of suspension
Key equipment and reagents
Use this page as an execution guide, then fall back to the source paper whenever you need exact exclusions, dosing details, or assay-specific caveats.
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Protocol Steps
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Animal handling and acclimation
Handle mice for three consecutive days to reduce handling stress, then transfer to testing room 1 hour in advance for acclimation
View evidence from paper
“all mice were handled for three consecutive days to reduce handling stress”
Tail preparation and suspension setup
Wrap a piece of tape around the tail, 1 cm from the tip of tail, and suspend the mouse at a height of 20-25 cm
View evidence from paper
“tail was suspended at a height of 20–25 cm by wrapping a piece of tape around the tail, 1 cm from the tip”
Suspension test
Suspend each mouse with the end of its tail for 6 minutes in a dark box with little background, ensuring the mouse is undisturbed throughout
View evidence from paper
“Each mouse was suspended with the end of its tail for 6 min in a dark box with little background”
Video recording and immobility measurement
Record duration of immobility using video camera, monitoring during the last 4 minutes of suspension
View evidence from paper
“Duration of immobility, recorded by a video camera (VisuTrack, shanghai, XR-VT), was monitored during the last 4 min of suspension”