[The effect of the removal of the superior cervical ganglia on the temporal dynamics of swimming and its sensitivity to an antidepressant in rats].

The reorganization of forced swimming time-course and behaviour in open field after superior cervical ganglionectomy in rats may be the result of disorders in adaptive processes. Behavioral shifts seem to be induced by the denervation of pineal gland with its adaptive properties. An increase of antidepressant drug (amitriptyline) activity was observed in both tests.