Studying the effect of chronic glucocorticoide injection on the depressive behavior in mice

ABSTRACT

Chronic cortisol is considered to be a hallmark of neuroendocrine and psychiatric disorders, such as Cushing's disease and depression. It remains unclear whether cortisol directly contributes to the altered mood and behaviour seen in these diseases. To answer this question, a model of chronic cortisol was utilized, in which, male albinos mice were injected intraperitoneally with corticosterone [13 mg/kg] for 23 days. Locomoter Activity was measured during this period. The results show that Acute treatment with Corticosterone increased Total Activity, Mobile Time, Active time, Rearing Counts, however, Chronic but not acute treatment with Corticosterone decreased these activities. This study suggests that chronic corticosterone may contribute to at least part of the symptoms [i.e. locomoter activities] displayed by patients with depression