ROLE OF EMOTIONALITY ON INTER AND INTRASTRAIN VARIATIONS IN IMIPRAMINE RESPONSE. A COMPARATIVE STUDY IN BALB/C AND SWISS MICE

Abstract : Association between emotionality and effect of imipramine on immobility time in forced swimming test was investigated in Swiss and Balb/c mice. Mice of both the strains were segregated into normal emotional (mean ± 1SD), low emotional (> mean + 1SD) and high emotional (< mean -1 S D ) b a s e d o n t h e i r p e r f o r m a n c e w i t h r e s p e c t t o e a c h i n d i c e s o f emotionality in novel arena and elevated plus maze. Baseline immobility and effect of imipramine (20 mg/kg, po) on immobility time was evaluated in these emotionally different groups of mice using forced swimming test model. Baseline immobility time of low emotional mice was found to be significantly less (P<0.01) and that of high emotional mice was found to be significantly more (P<0.01) when compared to normal emotional mice of both the strains. Immobility time after imipramine administration was f o u n d t o b e s i g n i f i c a n t l y l e s s ( P < 0 . 0 5 ) w i t h l o w e m o t i o n a l m i c e a n d significantly more (P<0.01) with high emotional mice when compared to normal emotional mice of both the strains