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Updated: May 13, 2026
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The Tail Suspension Test
Published on: January 28, 2012
Head movement: a novel serotonin-sensitive behavioral endpoint for tail suspension test analysis
Amber Lockridge1, Brett Newland, Spencer Printen
1Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Behavioural Brain Research
|March 19, 2013
Summary
Head movement in mouse models is a sensitive indicator of serotonin activity, offering a simpler alternative to traditional depression screening methods. This behavior reliably detects antidepressant effects, enhancing depression research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Pharmacology
- Animal Models of Depression
Background:
- The tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST) are common screens for antidepressant efficacy and depression-related behaviors.
- While TST offers procedural simplicity and consistent SSRI response, FST provides more specific neuromodulatory insights.
- Head movement is a newly identified behavioral endpoint in TST and FST, showing selective sensitivity to serotonin (5-HT).
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the reproducibility of head movement's baseline and drug response profile in the C57 mouse strain.
- To investigate the utility of head movement analysis for detecting serotonin-specific behavioral changes in TST.
- To elucidate the specific serotonin receptor subtypes involved in mediating head movement responses.
Main Methods:
- Behavioral analysis of head movement in C57 mice during TST and FST.
- Administration of SSRIs (fluoxetine) and norepinephrine-sensitive antidepressants (desipramine) to assess drug-specific behavioral changes.
- Pharmacological manipulation using 5-HT subtype receptor agonists and pCPA (to deplete endogenous 5-HT) to identify receptor involvement.
Main Results:
- Head movement patterns in C57 mice mirrored those previously observed in the 129S6 strain, confirming reproducibility.
- Head movement was inversely correlated with swimming in FST and increased in TST following SSRI administration.
- Selective serotonin receptor activation (5-HT2A and 5-HT2C) suppressed head movement, while 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B agonists were ineffective.
Conclusions:
- Head movement is a reliable and sensitive behavioral indicator of serotonin system activity in mouse models.
- Analyzing head movement in the TST offers a straightforward method to detect 5-HT-mediated antidepressant effects.
- This approach enhances the diagnostic capability of the TST for depression research with minimal methodological changes.
