Availability of learned helplessness test as a model of depression compared to a forced swimming test in rats

This study was designed to evaluate the antidepressant activity of various antidepressants using the learned helplessness test (LH) or the forced swimming test (FS) in rats. Repeated treatment of the tricyclic antidepressants imipramine (10 mg/kg, p.o.), clomipramine (0.625 mg/kg, p.o.), amitriptyline (10 mg/kg, p.o.) and amoxapine (20 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced the number of escape failures in the LH group, respectively. Repeated treatment of an atypical antidepressant, mianserin (2.5 and 5 mg/kg, p.o.), and one of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), fluvoxamine (1.25 mg/kg, p.o.), also reduced the number of escape failures in the LH group. In the FS, repeated treatment of imipramine (5, 10 mg/kg, p.o.), amitriptyline (5, 10 mg/kg, p.o.) and mianserin (10 mg/kg) significantly decreased the duration of immobility time. On the other hand, repeated treatment of amoxapine (5-20 mg/kg), clomipramine (0.1325-1.25 mg/kg, p.o.) and fluvoxamine (0.3125-1.25 mg/kg, p.o.) failed to decrease the duration of immobility time in the FS group. In conclusion, these results suggest that the LH group is sensitive to agents with a variety of antidepressant properties compared to the FS group in rats. Copyright 2001 (C) S. Karger AG, Basel.