Reduced immobility time in the tail suspension test (TST) by chronic immobilization stress. Role of corticosterone and brain serotonergic and adrenergic receptors

Abstract

SummaryChronically stressed adult male Balb C mice were submitted to the tail suspension test. Chronic immobilization stress (6 h/d for 14 consecutive days) induced a significant reduction in immobility time when compared to non-stressed controls. Pretreatment with LY 53857, a serotonin 5HT2 antagonist, and IPS 339, a selective beta-2 adrenoceptor blocker, reversed immobility time to the levels of non-stressed controls. Chronic administration of corticosterone (100 mg/kg for 7 d) did not modify immobility time as compared to saline treated controls. It is suggested that both serotonergic and adrenergic pathways in the brain may participate in the stress-induced changes occurring in the tail suspension test response and that corticosterone does not appear to play a role in this process.

Therapeutic Potential of Nelumbo nucifera (Sacred Lotus) in CNS Disorders

“…Lower immobility time in Tail-Suspension test is linked to serotonergic neurotransmission. 33 In the Open Field test and Elevated PlusMaze test, the duration, distance, and entries in the center and open arm demonstrate the depressionsuppressing effect of N. nucifera extract. Zhao et al…”