University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

An evaluation of a proposed animal model of depression: Effect on adult behavior and response to imipramine in three tests

Dwyer, Kathleen Dale

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Description

Title
An evaluation of a proposed animal model of depression: Effect on adult behavior and response to imipramine in three tests
Author(s)
Dwyer, Kathleen Dale
Issue Date
1992
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Roy, Edward J.
Department of Study
Neuroscience
Discipline
Neuroscience
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • Biology, Neuroscience
  • Psychology, Behavioral
Language
eng
Abstract
  • Antidepressant (AD) administration to developing rats produces behavioral alterations in adulthood. The similarity between these behavioral alterations and symptoms of depressive disorder suggested that juvenile antidepressant administration may be useful as an animal model of depression.
  • In these studies, adult female rats administered the AD desipramine as juveniles (Jdes animals) behaved different in initial exposures to the Porsolt forced swimming test compared with animals that were not handled as juveniles (Junh controls), but similar compared with juvenile saline treated (Jsal) controls. Imipramine influenced swim behavior in all groups when administered short-term after a pretest exposure to the swim test, or when administered long-term. Imipramine did not influence behavior in Jdes animals, but did influence behavior in Junh and Jsal controls, when administered short-term with no pretest exposure to the swim test.
  • Open field behavior of all juvenile treatment groups was influenced by short-term imipramine. Long-term imipramine did not influence the open field behavior of Jdes animals, but did influence behavior of Jsal and Junh controls.
  • Baseline diurnal running wheel activity showed only minor alterations due to juvenile treatment. With imipramine administration diurnal running wheel activity is phase delayed. Jdes animals were more sensitive to the phase-delaying effects of imipramine compared with Jsal controls, and less sensitive to the phase-delaying effects of imipramine compared with Junh controls.
  • The reduced sensitivity to imipramine observed in Jdes animals, under certain conditions, indicates that Jdes treatment does not produce a useful animal model of depression for studying AD action. These results underscore the possibility that ADs administered to pregnant and nursing women may have permanent effects on their progeny.
  • The effect of imipramine administration on forced swimming test behavior and open field behavior was also different for Junh controls and Jsal controls, under certain conditions. It is suggested that the early handling received by Jsal controls, but not by Junh controls, may explain these different behavioral responses to imipramine.
Type of Resource
text
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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/21330
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 1992 Dwyer, Kathleen Dale

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Graduate Dissertations and Theses at Illinois PRIMARY
Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Illinois
Dissertations - Neuroscience