Flaisher-Grinberg Shlomit, Einat Haim
College of Pharmacy, Duluth, University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN 55812, USA.
J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods. 2009 May-Jun;59(3):141-5. doi: 10.1016/j.vascn.2009.03.003. Epub 2009 Mar 31.
The lack of appropriate animal models for bipolar disorder (BPD) is a major factor hindering the research of its pathophysiology and the development of new drug treatments. In line with the notion that BPD might represent a heterogeneous group of disorders, it was suggested that models for specific domains of BPD should be developed. The present study tested the possible utilization of the forced swim test (FST) as a model for the heightened vigor and goal-directed behavior domain of mania, using mice with low baseline immobility.
Black Swiss mice were previously identified to have low immobility in the FST but similar spontaneous activity levels compared with several other mice strains. Thus, spontaneous activity and behavior in the FST were evaluated following treatment with the mood stabilizer valproate and the antidepressant imipramine.
The results indicated that valproate increased immobility in the FST without affecting spontaneous activity whereas imipramine had no effect in the FST but increased spontaneous activity.
These findings suggest that in mice with low baseline immobility scores, the FST might be a useful model for the elevated vigor and goal-directed behavior domain of mania. As such, this test might be well integrated into a battery of models for different domains of BPD.
双相情感障碍（BPD）缺乏合适的动物模型是阻碍其病理生理学研究和新药治疗开发的主要因素。鉴于双相情感障碍可能代表一组异质性疾病的观点，有人提出应开发双相情感障碍特定领域的模型。本研究使用基线不动性较低的小鼠，测试了强迫游泳试验（FST）作为躁狂症活力增强和目标导向行为领域模型的可能用途。
先前已确定瑞士黑小鼠在强迫游泳试验中的不动性较低，但与其他几种小鼠品系相比，自发活动水平相似。因此，在用情绪稳定剂丙戊酸盐和抗抑郁药丙咪嗪治疗后，评估了强迫游泳试验中的自发活动和行为。
结果表明，丙戊酸盐增加了强迫游泳试验中的不动性，而不影响自发活动，而丙咪嗪在强迫游泳试验中没有效果，但增加了自发活动。
这些发现表明，在基线不动性评分较低的小鼠中，强迫游泳试验可能是躁狂症活力增强和目标导向行为领域的有用模型。因此，该试验可能很好地整合到双相情感障碍不同领域的一系列模型中。
