Exploring persistence in animal models: The sinking platform test

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Science
• Psychology

Background:

• Persistence, crucial for resilience and depression prevention, is typically measured using labor-intensive animal models.
• Existing methods for assessing persistence in animals are resource-demanding, limiting research efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Sinking Platform Test (SPT), a high-throughput animal task for assessing persistence under stress.
• To investigate the impact of chronic stress on persistence and the efficacy of interventions.

Main Methods:

• Mice were trained on the SPT to climb a platform, with occasional trials requiring them to find a new platform after submersion.
• Persistence was measured by the number of platforms climbed during a 5-minute test session of only failure trials.
• The effects of chronic stress, antidepressant treatment, and voluntary exercise on SPT performance were evaluated.

Main Results:

• Chronic stress significantly reduced performance in the Sinking Platform Test.
• Antidepressant treatment and voluntary exercise reversed the negative effects of chronic stress on persistence.
• The SPT effectively measures persistence and its modulation by stress and interventions.

Conclusions:

• The Sinking Platform Test is a valuable, high-throughput tool for studying persistence, resilience, and depression.
• Findings support the role of persistence in stress response and highlight potential therapeutic avenues.
• Future work aims to refine the SPT for reduced stress and increased translational relevance, including human applications.