title: Preliminary study: effects of social instability stress on depressive behaviours in ovariectomised rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression is one of the common post-menopausal symptoms. In addition to estrogen deficiency, social instability stress may contribute as an additional underlying factor in the development of depressive behaviour in females. Therefore, this study was aimed at examining the influence of social instability stress on depressive behaviour in ovariectomized rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rats were divided into four groups (n = 5 per group); (i) sham-operated control without stress, (ii) sham-operated control with stress, (iii) ovariectomized without stress, and (iv) ovariectomized with stress. These rats were subjected to social instability stress procedures for 15 days prior to an enforced swimming test. Struggling, immobility, and swimming times were recorded promptly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results were analysed using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a P value of < 0.05 was considered as significant. The mean durations of struggling, immobility, and swimming behaviour were significantly distinct among the four groups. Ovariectomized rats exhibited a substantial decrease in struggling and swimming behaviour, and an increase in immobility behaviour in comparison with the sham-operated controls (P < 0.05). Ovariectomized rats with stress displayed a supplementary decrease in struggling and swimming behaviour as well as an advanced increase in immobility behaviour, compared to sham-operated controls with or without stress (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, these findings suggest that ovariectomized rats encountered an augmented amount of depressive behaviour following social instability stress.
authors: Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.
authors: Badriya
authors: B
authors: Al-Rahbi
authors: Rahimah
authors: R
authors: Zakaria
authors: Sangu
authors: S
authors: Muthuraju
authors: Zahiruddin
authors: Z
authors: Othman
authors: Asma
authors: A
authors: Hassan
keywords: depressive behaviour; forced swimming test; ovariectomy; stress
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