ABSTRACT
To assess the usefulness of the forced swim test [FST] in juvenile rats and to determine the efficacy of two antidepressants on the behavioral changes of adult and juvenile rats. Animal interventional study. Department of Pharmacology, Creighton University, Omaha, USA. Adult and 28 days old rats received saline, Imipramine or Fluoxetine three times during the 24 hours between 15 minutes pre-swim and the 5 minutes swim test. Immobility, swimming and climbing behaviors were measured. Locomotor activity was assessed for 28 days old rats in an open field test. Imipramine-treated juvenile rats had a decrease of immobility and increase climbing behavior, whereas Fluoxetine-treated juveniles had a decrease in immobility and increase in swimming behavior, both in a dose dependent manner. The present study clearly showed that the antidepressant effects of Imipramine and Fluoxetine can be applied to juvenile rats in the forced swim test; it could be validated as practical model for screening of the antidepressant effects