Taeko Hata, Hiroyuki Nishikawa, Eiji Itoh and Akiko Watanabe
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kinki University,
3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-Osaka 577-8502, Japan
Abstract: The effects of various types of stress and drugs were studied
to assess mouse performance in forced swimming tests, following characterization
of SART (specific alternation of rhythm in environmental temperature) stress.
Immobility time in the test decreased in mice subjected to SART, acute cold
and restraint stress. No change was noted due to chronic cold stress or
repeated fasting. The shortened time did not recover even 24 hr after the
end of SART and chronic restraint stress. The time in SART-stressed mice
finally recovered at 5 - 7 days. Shortening of immobility time in SART-stressed
mice was inhibited by diazepam and repeated imipramine but not by lithium
carbonate. In chronic restraint-stressed mice, this time was inhibited by
repeated lithium carbonate but not diazepam or imipramine. SART stress would
thus appear related to anxiety and depression and may be useful for detecting
new types of antidepressants.
Keywords: Forced swimming test, Stress, SART (specific alternation of
rhythm in environmental temperature) stress, Depression, Anxiety