Behavioral analysis during the forced swimming test using a joystick device

Gersner, Roman; Dar, Dalit E.; Shabat-Simon, Maytal; Zangen, Abraham

doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2004.09.017

Cited by 17 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Rats were exposed to the swim tank for 10 min at the first day and 5 min at the second day and were videotaped. Video films of the second day of each FST session were analyzed by a software developed in our laboratory, which continuously examines movement of pixels adjacent to the rat limbs and detects fine alterations in mobility throughout the test (Gersner et al, 2005(Gersner et al, , 2009). This method yields a sensitive analysis of more information than the standard scoring protocols.…”

Section: Forced Swim Testmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resilience to Chronic Stress Is Mediated by Hippocampal Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

Taliaz

Loya²,

Gersner³

et al. 2011

J. Neurosci.

260

168

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Chronic stress is a trigger for several psychiatric disorders, including depression; however, critical individual differences in resilience to both the behavioral and the neurochemical effects of stress have been reported. A prominent mechanism by which the brain reacts to acute and chronic stress is activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is inhibited by the hippocampus via a polysynaptic circuit. Alterations in secretion of stress hormones and levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus were implicated in depression and the effects of antidepressant medications. However, the potential role of hippocampal BDNF in behavioral resilience to chronic stress and in the regulation of the HPA axis has not been evaluated. In the present study, Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to 4 weeks of chronic mild stress (CMS) to induce depressive-like behaviors after lentiviral vectors were used to induce localized BDNF overexpression or knockdown in the hippocampus. The behavioral outcome was measured during 3 weeks after the CMS procedure, then plasma samples were taken for measurements of corticosterone levels, and finally hippocampal tissue was taken for BDNF measurements. We found that hippocampal BDNF expression plays a critical role in resilience to chronic stress and that reduction of hippocampal BDNF expression in young, but not adult, rats induces prolonged elevations in corticosterone secretion. The present study describes a mechanism for individual differences in responses to chronic stress and implicates hippocampal BDNF in the development of neural circuits that control adequate stress adaptations.

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Section: Forced Swim Testmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resilience to Chronic Stress Is Mediated by Hippocampal Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

Taliaz

Loya²,

Gersner³

et al. 2011

J. Neurosci.

260

168

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This was evident when testing preference for low (0.2%) but not high (2%) concentrations of sucrose solutions (Supplementary Figure 4). In the FST, a significant reduction in the total activity score (measured by a computerized program 35 ) was induced by BDNF knockdown in the dDG (Figure 2b). However, no significant differences were observed when only the immobility time was measured (Supplementary Figure 5).…”

Section: Behavioral Effects Of Bdnf Knockdown In the Ddg And The Ca3mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sucrose preference was assessed over a 10-day period using a 0.2% sucrose solution (t(43) = 3.526, P = 0.01). A modified FST was videotaped, and activity was scored and analyzed using our locally developed software which involves a computer attached joystick 35 (t(38) = 2.183, P < 0.05). Locomotion was automatically measured over four consecutive nights in the home cage of rats (t(41) = 2.855, P < 0.01).…”

Section: Behavioral Effects Of Bdnf Knockdown In the Ddg And The Ca3mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A modified FST was conducted in a cylindrical tank (40 cm high and 18 cm in diameter; constructed at the Weizmann Institute), as we have previously described. 31,34,35 The water temperature was kept at 24 1C (2 1C above room temperature) and the water level was such that the rat could not touch the bottom with its hind paws. Rats were given a single 10 min exposure to the swim tank and were videotaped.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Video films of each FST session were carefully analyzed by an observer blind to the treatment groups, using our locally developed software for a computer-attached joystick. 35 The computerized analysis for FST was developed in our laboratory to continuously follow the limbs of the rats 35 and detect fine alterations in mobility throughout the test. This allowed for a sensitive analysis of more information than the standard scoring protocols.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Knockdown of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in specific brain sites precipitates behaviors associated with depression and reduces neurogenesis

et al. 2009

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Depression has been associated with reduced expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. In addition, animal studies suggest an association between reduced hippocampal neurogenesis and depressive-like behavior. These associations were predominantly established based on responses to antidepressant drugs and alterations in BDNF levels and neurogenesis in depressive patients or animal models for depressive behavior. Nevertheless, there is no direct evidence that the actual reduction of the BDNF protein in specific brain sites can induce depressive-like behaviors or affect neurogenesis in vivo. Using BDNF knockdown by RNA interference and lentiviral vectors injected into specific subregions of the hippocampus we show that a reduction in BDNF expression in the dentate gyrus, but not the CA3, reduces neurogenesis and affects behaviors associated with depression. Moreover, we show that BDNF has a critical function in neuronal differentiation, but not proliferation in vivo. Finally, we found that a specific BDNF knockdown in the ventral subiculum induces anhedonic-like behavior. These findings provide substantial support for the neurotrophic hypothesis of depression and specify anatomical and neurochemical targets for potential antidepressant interventions. Moreover, the specific effect of BDNF reduction on neuronal differentiation has broader implications for the study of neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative diseases.

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A Tellurium-Based Small Immunomodulatory Molecule Ameliorates Depression-Like Behavior in Two Distinct Rat Models

et al. 2020

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Behavioral analysis during the forced swimming test using a joystick device

Cited by 17 publications

References 17 publications

Resilience to Chronic Stress Is Mediated by Hippocampal Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

Resilience to Chronic Stress Is Mediated by Hippocampal Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

Knockdown of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in specific brain sites precipitates behaviors associated with depression and reduces neurogenesis

A Tellurium-Based Small Immunomodulatory Molecule Ameliorates Depression-Like Behavior in Two Distinct Rat Models

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