Abstract:

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of three distinct stress protocols on anxiety/depression-related behaviors in adult female rats. Material and Methods: Adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=8) as control, immobilization stress-1 (daily 45 minutes) immobilization stress-2 (daily twice 45 minutes) and social isolation (rats were housed in a metabolic cage). Stress protocols were performed for a period of 10 days. When the animals were in diestrus, depression/anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated by the open field test and forced swimming test. The same tests were repeated after a 10-day rest period. Results: In the open field test, a percentage of time spent in the central area was lower in the immobilization stress-2 and social isolation (p<0.05) groups and total distance was lower in the immobilization stress-1 (p<0.01) and the social isolation groups (p<0.05). Rearing score was lower in the social isolation group (p<0.05). Swimming behaviors were lower (p<0.01), and immobility durations were higher (p<0.05) in the immobilization stress-1 and social isolation groups. In the second tests, time spent in the central area was lower in the immobilization stress-1 (p<0.05) and the immobilization stress-2 (p<0.01) groups. Swimming behaviors were lower and immobility behaviors were higher in the immobilization stress-1 group (p<0.001) and the social isolation group (p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: We suggest that depression-like behaviors are more dominant in the immobilization stress-1 and social isolation groups of adult female rats.

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