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Physical activity does not account for the physiological response to forced swim testing
1C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Detroit, MI 48201.
Physiology & Behavior
|October 1, 1994
Summary
The forced swim test reveals distinct physiological changes, including lactate and glucose levels, that are not solely due to physical activity or stress. Food deprivation did not alter these immobility responses in rats.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Animal Physiology
Background:
- The forced swim test is widely used to assess behavioral despair and immobility in rodents.
- Understanding the underlying physiological variables is crucial for interpreting test results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physiological correlates of the immobility response in the forced swim test.
- To differentiate stress and physical activity effects from specific immobility-related physiology.
Main Methods:
- Experiment 1: Compared physiological responses (lactate, glucose, anion gap, CO2) to water immersion, treadmill running, and foot shock.
- Experiment 2: Assessed the impact of food deprivation on behavioral and physiological responses during forced swimming.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in the temporal patterns of physiological variables were observed across water immersion, treadmill running, and foot shock.
- Food deprivation did not influence the behavioral or physiological outcomes of the forced swim test.
- Physiological changes during forced swimming are not exclusively attributable to general physical exertion or stress.
Conclusions:
- The physiological signature of the forced swim test is distinct and not merely a consequence of physical activity or stress.
- Food deprivation is not a confounding factor in the forced swim test's physiological assessments.