The effects of subchronic and chronic SSRI treatments on learned helplessness behavior in rats
Previous research suggests that animals treated with 14 days or more of fluoxetine, a selective serotonin (5-HT) repuptake inhibitor antidepressant, should demonstrate behaviors typical of learned helplessness (LH). Learned helplessness is thought to be caused by a sensitization that occurs in the d...
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| Format: | Dissertation |
| Language: | English |
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ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
01-01-2006
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| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Previous research suggests that animals treated with 14 days or more of fluoxetine, a selective serotonin (5-HT) repuptake inhibitor antidepressant, should demonstrate behaviors typical of learned helplessness (LH). Learned helplessness is thought to be caused by a sensitization that occurs in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) during uncontrollable, but not controllable stress when 5-HT1A inhibitory autoreceptors are downregulated. Likewise 14+ days of fluoxetine treatment has been shown to desensitize 5-HT1A inhibitory autoreceptors in the DRN. Therefore, we hypothesized that 14 days of fluoxetine treatment would cause animals to demonstrate behaviors of LH. Additionally, research shows that while 14 days is sufficient to desensitize 5-HT1A receptors, 4 days is not. Therefore, we hypothesized that 4 days of fluoxetine treatment in rats would not affect their performance in LH behavioral testing. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) |
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| ISBN: | 9780542599736 0542599732 |