Preliminary Study: Effects of Social Instability Stress on Depressive Behaviours in Ovariectomised Rats
Background: Depression is one of the common post-menopausal symptoms. In addition to estrogen deiciency, social instability stress may contribute as an additional underlying factor in the development of depressive behaviour in females. Therefore, this study was aimed at examining the inluence of...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Penerbit USM
2013
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.usm.my/44489/ http://eprints.usm.my/44489/1/2013_MJMS_-_social_instability_stress-libre.pdf |
| Summary: | Background: Depression is one of the common post-menopausal symptoms. In addition to
estrogen deiciency, social instability stress may contribute as an additional underlying factor in the
development of depressive behaviour in females. Therefore, this study was aimed at examining the
inluence of social instability stress on depressive behaviour in ovariectomized rats.
Methods: The rats were divided into four groups (n = 5 per group); (i) sham-operated control
without stress, (ii) sham-operated control with stress, (iii) ovariectomized without stress, and (iv)
ovariectomized with stress. These rats were subjected to social instability stress procedures for 15
days prior to an enforced swimming test. Struggling, immobility, and swimming times were recorded
promptly.
Results: The results were analysed using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and
a P value of < 0.05 was considered as signiicant. The mean durations of struggling, immobility,
and swimming behaviour were signiicantly distinct among the four groups. Ovariectomized
rats exhibited a substantial decrease in struggling and swimming behaviour, and an increase in
immobility behaviour in comparison with the sham-operated controls (P < 0.05). Ovariectomized
rats with stress displayed a supplementary decrease in struggling and swimming behaviour as well
as an advanced increase in immobility behaviour, compared to sham-operated controls with or
without stress (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: In summary, these indings suggest that ovariectomized rats encountered an
augmented amount of depressive behaviour following social instability stress. |
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