Immobility Time (immobility + time)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


C1473G polymorphism in mouse tph2 gene is linked to tryptophan hydroxylase-2 activity in the brain, intermale aggression, and depressive-like behavior in the forced swim test

JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 5 2009
Daria V. Osipova
Abstract Tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2) is the rate-limiting enzyme of brain serotonin synthesis. The C1473G polymorphism in the mouse tryptophan hydroxylase-2 gene affects the enzyme's activity. In the present study, we investigated the linkage between the C1473G polymorphism, enzyme activity in the brain, and behavior in the forced swim, intermale aggression, and open field tests using mice of the C57BL/6 (C/C) and CC57BR/Mv (G/G) strains and the B6-1473C (C/C) and B6-1473G (G/G) lines created by three successive backcrossings on C57BL/6. Mice of the CC57BR/Mv strain had decreased brain enzyme activity, aggression intensity, and immobility in the forced swim test, but increased locomotor activity and time spent in the central part of the open field arena compared with animals of the C57BL/6 strain. Mice of the B6-1473G line homozygous for the 1473G allele had lower TPH2 activity in the brain, aggression intensity, and immobility time in the forced swim test compared with animals of the B6-1473C line homozygous for the 1473C allele. No differences were found between the B6-1473G and B6-1473C mice in locomotor activity and time spent in the central part of the arena in the open field test. Thus, the C1473G polymorphism is involved in the determination of TPH2 activity and is linked to aggression intensity and forced-swim immobility in mice. At the same time, the polymorphism does not affect locomotion and anxiety-related behavior in the open field test. The B6-1473C and B6-1473G mice represent a valuable experimental model for investigating molecular mechanisms of serotonin-related behavior. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Effects of oral administration of extracts of Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) on brain serotonin transporter, serotonin uptake and behaviour in mice

JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 12 2004
Kazufumi Hirano
The pharmacological effects of extracts of Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) were characterized in-vitro and ex-vivo, in relation to its behavioural effects. In in-vitro experiments, St John's wort inhibited brain synaptosomal [3H]serotonin uptake in mice with little effect on specific [3H]paroxetine binding. For selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the IC50 value for [3H]serotonin uptake (molar concentration of unlabelled drug necessary to displace 50% of specific uptake) correlated well with the inhibition constant Ki value for [3H]paroxetine binding in mouse brain. Oral administration of St John's wort (900 mg kg,1), paroxetine (1 mg kg,1) and sertraline (10 mg kg,1) brought about significant increases in the Km value for [3H]serotonin uptake into brain synaptosomes 4 h later, and only SSRIs suppressed specific [3H]paroxetine binding in mouse brain. St John's wort and SSRIs significantly inhibited marble-burying behaviour in mice and the time-course of attenuation of this behaviour by St John's wort was similar to that of [3H]serotonin uptake inhibition. In the forced swimming test, St John's wort, but not SSRIs, suppressed the immobility time of mice after oral administration. These results provide the first in-vivo evidence to suggest that the mode of antidepressant action of St John's wort differs from that of SSRIs. Thus, this study may have a significant impact on phytotherapy with St John's wort. [source]


Helplessness in the Tail Suspension Test Is Associated with an Increase in Ethanol Intake and Its Rewarding Effect in Female Mice

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 3 2005
Yann Pelloux
Background: Depression is frequently observed in drug abusers. However, depression may be a primary factor of predisposition to drug abuse or a consequence of drug abuse. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of a preexisting depressive-like state/helplessness on subsequent alcohol responsiveness in mice. Methods: Male and female CD1 mice were selected according to their immobility time in the tail suspension test, and only mice with "high immobility" and "low immobility" time were retained. Using a two-bottle free-choice paradigm, these mice were given continuous access to tap water or solutions of ethanol (3,20% v/v), quinine (12.5,50 mg/liter), or sucrose (1,4% w/v). In female mice, rewarding and aversive effects of ethanol (1.5 and 3 g/kg, intraperitoneally) were also investigated using the conditioned place preference and the conditioned taste aversion paradigms. Results: Female mice were more immobile and drank more ethanol than male mice. No striking sex difference was observed in quinine consumption. Sucrose intake was higher in female than in male mice, whatever the solution concentration. At the 4% concentrated solution, a sucrose-induced increase in daily fluid intake was observed only in female mice. Female mice with high immobility time (HI) consumed more ethanol at the highest concentration than female mice with low immobility time (LI), whereas no difference was observed between HI and LI male mice. Moreover, whereas LI female mice failed to express place conditioning induced by the 3-g/kg dose of ethanol, HI female mice were strongly responsive to the rewarding effect of this high ethanol dose. Ethanol dose-dependently induced a conditioned taste aversion with a similar magnitude in both LI and HI female mice. Conclusions: The findings indicate that female CD1 mice tend to drink greater amounts of ethanol or sucrose solutions than male CD1 mice, suggesting that female mice may be a better model of excessive alcohol intake. Furthermore, no relationship was found between immobility scores and ethanol consumption in male mice. On the contrary, within female mice, HI mice consumed higher amounts of ethanol than LI mice probably because they experienced greater rewarding effects of ethanol. The present results support the hypothesis that depressive-like responses may predispose to ethanol abuse in female mice. [source]


Effects of hydrolyzed Chlorella vulgaris by malted barley on the immunomodulatory response in ICR mice and in Molt-4 cells

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 9 2010
Na-Hyung Kim
Abstract BACKGROUND:Chlorella vulgaris is a unicellular and microscopic algae that is currently used in a variety of forms of tablets, capsules and liquid as a biological response modifier. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hydrolyzed Chlorella vulgaris by malted barley for its potential reduction of the immobility time in ICR mice and on the cytokine regulation in human T cell line, Molt-4. RESULTS: After a forced swimming test, the changes in aspects of blood biochemical parameters due to the administration of hydrolyzed Chlorella vulgaris by malted barley were examined. The effect of hydrolyzed Chlorella vulgaris by the malted barley-treated group for 14 days on the immobility time was significantly reduced in comparison with that of the control group (P < 0.01). The plasma level of blood urea nitrogen was significantly decreased in hydrolyzed Chlorella vulgaris by malted barley-treated group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, hydrolyzed Chlorella vulgaris by malted barley increased interferon-, and interlukin-2 levels in Molt-4 cells. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that hydrolyzed Chlorella vulgaris by malted barley is useful for immune function improvements, enhanced physical stamina, and as a candidate for an anti-fatigue or antidepressant agent. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Antidepressant evaluation of polysaccharides from a Chinese herbal medicine Banxia-houpu decoction

PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 3 2004
Yusong Guo
Abstract Banxia-houpu decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine has been used in the treatment of depression. The present study con,rmed that oral administration of polysaccharides from Banxia-houpu decoction, exhibited a reduction in the immobility time in the tail suspension and in the forced swimming tests in mice in a time-dependent manner. This effect at a dose of 320 mg/kg was more potent than that at a dose of 640 mg/kg. The polysaccharides from Banxia-houpu decoction were active in animal models of depression with comparable effects to known antidepressants. The oral administration of the polysaccharides at a low dose for 4 weeks resulted in a signi,cant increase in the monoamine neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) levels in whole mouse brain, but produced no signi,cant increase in 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and norepinephrine (NE) concentrations. The effect of polysaccharides on the brain neurotransmitter levels appeared to be quite different from the effect of ,uoxetine, a serotonin speci,c reuptake inhibitor. The results indicate that the mode of action of polysaccharides from Banxia-houpu decoction in depression might be related to both 5-HT and DA systems. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Synthesis and Evaluation on Anticonvulsant and Antidepressant Activities of 5-Alkoxy-tetrazolo[1,5- a]quinazolines

ARCHIV DER PHARMAZIE, Issue 11 2009
Huo-Jian Wang
Abstract Several 5-alkoxy-tetrazolo[1,5- a]quinazoline derivatives have been synthesized by reacting 2,4-dichloroquinazoline with various phenols or aliphatic alcohol and then with sodium azide. The structures of these compounds have been confirmed by IR, MS, 1H-NMR, and elementary analysis. Anticonvulsant activities were evaluated using the maximal electroshock (MES) test. Most of the synthesized compounds displayed weak anticonvulsant activity at a dose of 300 mg/kg. Antidepressant activities were investigated by forced swimming test. Two compounds, namely 5-(hexyloxy)tetrazolo[1,5- a]quinazoline and 5-(4-methoxyphenoxy)tetrazolo[1,5- a]quinazoline, showed significant antidepressant activity, which decreased the immobility time by 62.2 and 51.7% at 100 mg/kg dose level. [source]


Design, Synthesis, and In-Vivo Pharmacological Screening of N,3-(Substituted Diphenyl)-5-phenyl-1H -pyrazoline-1-carbothioamide Derivatives

ARCHIV DER PHARMAZIE, Issue 3 2009
Nadeem Siddiqui
Abstract Various 3,5-(substituted diphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-pyrazole-1-carbothioic acid phenylamides were synthesized starting from substituted acetophenones. Structures of the compounds were confirmed on the basis of spectral data. The compounds were evaluated for their anticonvulsant and antidepressant activity. Interestingly, out of 26 compounds, four (3f, 3g, 3t, and 3u) were found to protect 100% of the animals in the MES screen at a dose of 25 mg/kg. They were also found to have appreciable anticonvulsant activity in scPTZ screen. Two compounds, 3j and 3o, significantly reduced the duration of the immobility time at 25 mg/kg dose, when compared to control. [source]


Chronic Administration of Ketamine Elicits Antidepressant-Like Effects in Rats without Affecting Hippocampal Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Protein Levels

BASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY, Issue 6 2008
Lęda S. Garcia
The present study was aimed to evaluate behavioural and molecular effects of the chronic treatment with ketamine and imipramine in rats. To this aim, rats were 14 days treated once a day with ketamine (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg) and imipramine (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg) and then subjected to the forced swimming and open-field tests. Ketamine and imipramine, at the all doses tested, reduced immobility time, and increased both climbing and swimming time of rats compared to the saline group, without affecting spontaneous locomotor activity. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) hippocampal levels were assessed in imipramine- and ketamine-treated rats by ELISA sandwich assay. Chronic administration of both drugs, ketamine and imipramine, did not modify BDNF protein levels in the rat hippocampus. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate for the first time that chronic administration of acute inactive doses of ketamine (5 mg/kg) becomes active after chronic treatment, while no signs of tolerance to the behavioural effects of ketamine were observed after chronic administration of acute active doses (10 and 15 mg/kg). Finally, these findings further support the hypothesis that NMDA receptor could be a new pharmacological target for the treatment of mood disorders. [source]