Behavioral assessment of rats through the forced-swimming test
- Autores: Ana Luiza Peretti, Camila Thieimi Rosa, Tatiane Kamada Errero, Vinícius Baretta, Sara Cristina Sagae Schneider, Gladson Ricardo Flor Bertolini
- Localización: Scientia Medica, ISSN-e 1980-6108, Vol. 25, Nº. 1, 2015
- Idioma: inglés
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Resumen
Aims: Regular exercise has several beneficial effects. However, reports show increasing concentrations of endogenous corticosteroids, which may inhibit neurogenesis and deteriorate cognitive functions, thus raising doubts as to the benefits of physical exercise. The objective of this study was to evaluate, through behavioral tests, the effect of chronic forced swimming with and without overload on anxiety parameters in Wistar rats.
Methods: Twenty-four Wistar rats, divided into three groups, were assessed: Control Group – subjected only to evaluations and contact with water; Swimming Group – consisting of animals submitted to progressive swimming time; Weight-loaded Swimming Group – consisting of animals submitted to swimming with loads in excess of 10% of their body weight. The exercise was performed three times a week in the afternoon, with swimming time increases every two weeks (20, 30, and 40 minutes), during six weeks, A 200-liter circular water tank, filled to a depth of 50 cm, was used, and the water temperature was kept between 30º and 32º C. The animals’ anxiety was assessed by the Elevated Plus Maze and Open Field tests.
Results: No significant differences between the three groups were detected by any of the behavioral tests.
Conclusions: No changes were observed in the behavioral pattern of Wistar rats submitted to different exercise protocols (forced swimming with and without overload) compared to the control group.
