[Rotarod method in young rats and the antidepressive effect: is the rotarod method capable of evaluating...

The possibilities of applying the rotarod method in young rats for evaluating the antidepressive effect were studied. The results were compared with those obtained by the despair test, which was also used to evaluate the antidepressive effect. The rats used in these tests had not been trained previously. In the rotarod test, antidepressant drugs such as imipramine (30 mg/kg, p.o.), desipramine (10 mg/kg, p.o.), clorgyline (10 mg/kg, p.o.), mianserin (30 mg/kg, p.o.), trazodone (10 mg/kg, p.o.) and clomipramine (30 mg/kg, p.o.) and an ACE inhibitor, enalapril (30 mg/kg, p.o.), significantly prolonged the time rats were able to remain on the rotating rod in a dose-dependent manner. Diazepam significantly reduced the duration on the rotating rod. Theophylline, caffeine and fenfluramine did not affect the duration on the rotating rod. In the despair test (forced swimming test), clorgyline, enalapril and caffeine significantly reduced the duration of immobility during the forced swimming in a dose-dependent manner. Imipramine and desipramine significantly reduced the duration of immobility during forced swimming. Trazodone and clomipramine did not affect the duration of immobility. Diazepam significantly prolonged the duration of immobility. A highly significant correlation was noted between the results obtained by the rotarod method and those obtained by the despair test. In the traction test, theophylline and caffeine significantly prolonged the duration during the traction response. However, other drugs did not affect the duration during the traction response. These results demonstrate that the rotarod method in young rats may be applicable for evaluating the antidepressive effect.