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Neurochemical and Behavioral Effects of Stress: A Rat Model of Depression

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New Directions in Affective Disorders

Abstract

We have established a model for depression that has behavioral and neurochemical analogies to the human illness and also responds to antidepressant drugs. The model is based on effects of 2 h of restraint stress in the rat: (a) increased plasma corticosterone; (b) decreased locomotion and increased defecation on placement 24 h later in an open field; and (c) anorexia. Figure 1.1 shows typical results and that daily restraint leads to adaptation; behavior becomes normal.1

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© 1989 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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Curzon, G., Haleem, D.J., Kennett, G.A. (1989). Neurochemical and Behavioral Effects of Stress: A Rat Model of Depression. In: Lerer, B., Gershon, S. (eds) New Directions in Affective Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3524-8_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3524-8_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-96769-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-3524-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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