title: Predictive Validity of Some Common Animal Models of Bipolar Disorder Using Lithium and Lamotrigine Therapy: An Attempt towards a Battery-Based Approach for the Evaluation of Mood Stabilizers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the predictive validity of some of the commonly employed models of mania and depression using standard drugs i.e. lithium (70 mg/kg) and lamotrigine (5 mg/kg) in male Wistar rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The depression facet of bipolar disorder was evaluated using forced swim test, tail suspension test, and chronic mild stress test. The models used to evaluate the mania facet of bipolar disorder were isolation-induced aggression test, saccharine preference test, and morphine-sensitized hyperlocomotion test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The immobility time was significantly (p<0.05) reduced by lamotrigine in the tail suspension test and the forced swim test, while lithium caused significant (p<0.05) reduction only in the tail suspension test. Rats exposed to chronic mild stress showed the maximal increment of 1% sucrose consumption at the 3rd week of treatment in both the lithium (p<0.001) and lamotrigine (p<0.01) groups. In the isolation-induced aggression test, the aggressive behaviour of rats was significantly reduced by both lithium [approach (p<0.001), attack (p<0.01), and bite (p<0.01)] and lamotrigine [approach (p<0.001), and attack (p<0.05)]. Neither of the drugs were effective in the saccharine preference test. Only lithium was able to significantly (p<0.05) reduce the crossing parameter in morphine-sensitized rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study identifies the chronic mild stress test and isolation-induced aggression test of having the highest predictive validity in the depression and mania facets of bipolar disorder, respectively, and should be a part of a battery of tests used to evaluate novel mood stabilizers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Manu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Chakra Dhar
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Veena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Biswa Mohan
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Padhy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Girish Gulab
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Meshram
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abhilash
keywords: Battery-based approach; Bipolar disorder; Lamotrigine; Lithium; Predictive validity