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Updated: Oct 7, 2026

A Chronic Immobilization Stress Protocol for Inducing Depression-Like Behavior in Mice
Published on: May 15, 2019
Pharmacological evidence of muscarinic-cholinergic sensitization following chronic stress
C Orsini1, C Castellano, S Cabib
1IRCCS, Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.
Rationale:
Although much evidence supports a major role of brain cholinergic transmission in memory consolidation processes, little is known about cholinergic functioning under environmental pressure.
Objectives:
The present experiments were aimed at investigating possible functional adaptation of muscarinic receptors promoted by a chronic stressful procedure in an inbred strain of mice highly susceptible to stress.
Methods:
We tested the effects of post-trial administration of a cholinergic agonist and a muscarinic antagonist on the retention of a passive avoidance task in control animals and compared these effects with those observed following food restriction.
Results:
Food restriction enhanced the facilitatory effects of oxotremorine and reduced the impairing effects of atropine on memory consolidation.
Conclusion:
Our results support the view that chronic sensitization of muscarinic receptors occurs following chronic stress.
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