Rodent Models of Depression: Forced Swim and Tail Suspension Behavioral Despair Tests in Rats and Mice

TLDR

Rodent behavioral despair and tail suspension tests, which measure immobility duration and latency in inescapable situations, are essential for initial antidepressant screening and are known to be reduced by most clinically used antidepressants, with latency increases enhancing sensitivity for certain drug classes. The forced swim (behavioral despair) test in rats and mice and the tail suspension test in mice are used to screen new substances by measuring changes in immobility duration and latency, providing a simple assessment of potential antidepressant activity. These tests exhibit good predictive validity, enabling rapid and economical detection of substances with potential antidepressant-like activity.

Abstract

The development of antidepressants requires simple rodent behavioral tests for initial screening before undertaking more complex preclinical tests and clinical evaluation. Presented in the unit are two widely used screening tests used for antidepressants, the forced swim (also termed behavioral despair) test in the rat and mouse, and the tail suspension test in the mouse. These tests have good predictive validity and allow rapid and economical detection of substances with potential antidepressant-like activity. The behavioral despair and the tail suspension tests are based on the same principle: measurement of the duration of immobility when rodents are exposed to an inescapable situation. The majority of clinically used antidepressants decrease the duration of immobility. Antidepressants also increase the latency to immobility, and this additional measure can increase the sensitivity of the behavioral despair test in the mouse for certain classes of antidepressant. Testing of new substances in the behavioral despair and tail suspension tests allows a simple assessment of their potential antidepressant activity by the measurement of their effect on immobility.