Further studies on a novel animal model of depression: Therapeutic effects of a tricyclic antidepressant

We have previously shown that rats given stress before open field testing have elevated activity in comparison with unstressed rats. This acute behavioral response may be eliminated by chronic stress and restored by pretreatment with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor pargyline. The present study replicated previous findings upon the effects of acute and chronic stress and extended results upon treatment to the class of tricyclic antidepressant drugs, using imipramine as a prototypic tricyclic antidepressant. Imipramine also restored both behavioral and psychoendocrine activity which was otherwise altered by chronic stress.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24331/1/0000598.pd