Author(s)

Francesco Crespi

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Behavioral observations combined with electrochemical analysis have been performed in Wistar or Sprague-Dawley CD rats in the attempt to clarify earlier controversial behavioral reports. In particular, these rats were submitted to FST and to repeated Forced Swimming (rFS, during 4 days). In parallel, voltammetric in vivo analysis of serotonin (5-HT) levels in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) collected daily from these animals was also performed as it is known that peripheral 5-HT levels monitored in rat PRP mirror cerebral 5-HT contents. Thus, combined behavioral-voltammetric studies allow deducing changes of central 5-HT levels that could be correlated to FST or rFS, with the advantage of non invasive analysis of central neurotransmitter activities in intact behaving animals. In particular, combined beha-vioral-voltammetric results suggest that “behavioral despair” is the process interesting Wistar rats when submitted to FST or rFS while “learning to be immobile” is the process involving Sprague-Dawley CD rats.

Rat Strains, Behavior, Electrochemistry, Fluoxetine, Serotonin, Platelets

Crespi, F. (2010). Is a Divergent Central Serotonergic Activity Responsible for Either Despair or Learning Behavior in Intact Wistar or Sprague-Dawley CD Rats, Respectively? A Concomitant Behavioral and Electrochemical Analysis. Psychology, 1, 209-219. doi: 10.4236/psych.2010.13028.