title: A mouse model of depression induced by repeated corticosterone injections.
abstract: A rat model of depression has been recently developed by exogenous corticosterone administration. In this study, we further determined whether corticosterone administration also increased depression-like behavior in mice and explored the brain biochemical consequences of exposure to this administration paradigm. Mice received repeated injections of vehicle and 20 mg/kg of corticosterone for 1, 3 and 5 weeks, and then were subjected to the forced-swim and tail suspension tests. The results showed that repeated corticosterone injections increased immobility behavior in the forced-swim and tail suspension tests in a time-dependent manner. Meanwhile, this injection paradigm produced a time-related effect on tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) levels in the hippocampus of mice. These results are consistent with correlations in stress-induced depression models, and suggest that the repeated corticosterone injection paradigm provides a useful and reliable mouse model within which to further study the role of stress and glucocorticoids in depressive illness, as well as screen for antidepressants or preventive drugs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Yunan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ru
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Dongming
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000201:enzymology; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013550:Swimming; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D003345:Corticosterone