title: Open-space forced swim model of depression for mice.
abstract: This protocol describes a simplified method for inducing a chronic depression-like state in mice that is based on the repeated open-space forced swim method originally developed for rats. The method consists of mice swimming daily in lukewarm water in rat tub cages, for 15 min/day for 4 days, and thereafter once per week. This procedure produces a progressive decrease in distance swum and a concomitant increase in immobility (floating) in ∼70% of the mice, both of which persist unaltered for weeks. The model has predictive, face, and construct validity and has a number of advantages over previous methods in that it utilizes very mild stress, is short in duration, and is easily standardized. Moreover, since it utilizes a greater swimming area than the traditional (Porsolt) method it can be used to study interactions of depressive behavior with behavioral flexibility and perseveration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, New York University Langone School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D013550:Swimming / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014741:Video Recording
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents