Name: the unpredictable chronic mild stress protocol for inducing anhedonia in mice
Uploaded: 2018-10-24T13:30:00.000+00:00
Duration: 7 min 13 s
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice at JoVE.com

The authors would like to thank Gali Breuer for her assistance in the video production.&#160;This research was supported by the Israel Ministry of Science, Technology &#38; Space (grant no. 313552), by the National Institute for Psychobiology in Israel (NIPI-208-16-17b) and by the Open University Foundation.

All methods described here have been approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Academic College Tel-Aviv-Yaffo.
1. Animals
<ol>
	<li>Use pre-adolescent (i.e., 3 weeks old) Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) outbred male mice.</li>
	<li>Randomize mice to two equally sized stress group (UCMS vs. na&#239;ve). Use 15 mice per treatment group (e.g.: if there are 3 pharmacological treatment groups use 90 mice overall; 2 [UCMS vs. na&#239;ve] &#215; 3 [treatments] &#215; 15 [mice] = 90)</li>
	<li>House mice according to the stress group; namely, house na&#239;ve mice with na&#239;ve mice only, and house UCMS group mice with mice from the UCMS group only.</li>
	<li>House animals in standard home cages (30 &#215; 15 &#215; 14 cm; 5 mice per cage; each cage containing mice from all treatment groups [i.e., pharmacological treatment groups]; maintain mice in the same cage throughout the experiment, except when indicated otherwise).</li>
	<li>Fill home cages with fresh sawdust (replaced twice a week) and add a piece of cotton wool for enrichment.</li>
	<li>House animals in the home cage for an acclimation period of one week. Allow ad libitum access to rodent chow and water (except during UCMS stressor applications).</li>
	<li>Keep a consistent 12 h light/dark cycle (except when indicated otherwise). During UCMS procedures maintain na&#239;ve mice in their home cage.</li>
</ol>
2. UCMS
<ol>
	<li>Designate a separate room in the lab, for the sole use of the UCMS protocol.</li>
	<li>Design a 4-week stressor regimen in which each of the seven stressors (i.e., wet cage, dampened sawdust, tilted cage, empty cage, social stress, mice restraint and disruption of light/dark cycle) is utilized once a week, on a different day each week (for a possible design see Supplemental Table 1).</li>
	<li>Following 1 week of acclimation (see 1.6) initiate stressors application (ensure that mice are approximately 4 weeks old).</li>
	<li>Each day, before the stressor application, transfer the cages of the UCMS group from the housing room to the UCMS room.</li>
	<li>During stressor applications, block access to the rodent chow and water for the UCMS group (except during reversal of light/dark cycle). 
	NOTE: This could be obtained by the replacement of the original cage lid (which contains food and water), to an empty cage lid.</li>
	<li>Apply the following stressors according to the regimen designed earlier (see 2.2):
	<ol>
		<li>Wet cage
		<ol>
			<li>Place mice together with their home cage counterparts in an empty cage (i.e., cage without sawdust).</li>
			<li>Fill the empty cage with water kept at 24 &#177; 1 &#176;C to a depth of 1 cm (pour with caution to avoid direct water spillage on mice). Keep mice in the wet cage for 4 h.</li>
			<li>Transfer each mouse to a separate individual transient drying cage with a heat lamp above it, a heating pad under it and paper towel bedding. Place a thermometer in the transient cage to verify the temperature does not exceed 37 &#176;C.</li>
			<li>Keep each mouse in the transient cage until it is dry and looks invigorated (approximately 10&#8211;15 min). Return mice to home cage with same counterparts.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>Dampened sawdust
		<ol>
			<li>Pour water kept at 24 &#177; 1 &#176;C to the home cage until the sawdust is moderately dampened (pour with caution to avoid direct water spillage on mice). 
			NOTE: It is not necessary to use fresh sawdust before pouring the water.</li>
			<li>After 4 h, dry mice in transient cages as described in 2.6.1.3. Place mice with home cage counterparts in a sterile cage with fresh sawdust.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>Tilted cage
		<ol>
			<li>Tilt cages at 45&#176; against the wall for 4 h. 
			NOTE: During this period, stressor mice remain in their home cage with their counterparts.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>Empty cage
		<ol>
			<li>Transfer mice, along with their specific home cage counterparts, from the home cage to an empty cage for 4 h.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>Social stress
		<ol>
			<li>Transfer mice, along with their specific home cage counterparts, from the home cage to a cage which was housed by a different group of mice for a period of at least 3 d prior to stressor application. Keep mice in the unfamiliar cage for 4 h. 
			NOTE: To avoid uncertainty place a sticker on each cage to indicate mice origin cage.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>Mice Restraint
		<ol>
			<li>Place each mouse separately in a clean mouse restrainer for 4 h. Return mice to home cage with same counterparts.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>Disruption of light/dark cycle
		<ol>
			<li>Transfer mice, in their home cage with their specific counterparts, to the UCMS room. Keep the light on, for 24 consecutive h. 
			NOTE: Only during this stressor mice will be allowed ad libitum access to rodent chow and water.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Following stressor application, return cages of the UCMS group from the UCMS room to the housing room.</li>
	<li>During the 4 weeks of stress exposure, keep the na&#239;ve group in their home cages located in the housing room. 
	NOTE: Na&#239;ve mice are not transferred to the UCMS rooms because exposure to other mice undergoing stress procedure could induce a stressogenic effect, even without direct exposure to the stressor89,90.</li>
	<li>Monitoring of Animals during UCMS
	<ol>
		<li>During stressor applications (except during disruption of light/dark cycle) monitor mice every 30 min by an experienced experimenter. If an atypical distress (e.g., trembling, lethargy, lack of movement) is observed (special caution should be placed on potential hypothermia during &#39;wet cage&#39; and &#39;dampened sawdust&#39;) relieve the mouse from the stressor immediately.</li>
		<li>Inspect each mouse daily for wounds or other physical or behavioral abnormalities. If such are inspected consult with the laboratory&#39;s veterinarian to decide whether the mouse should be excluded from the experiment.</li>
		<li>Weigh each mouse every 3 days. Robust reduction in body weight (i.e., &#62;10% reduction from baseline weight or &#62;15% reduction from last measured weight) must be reported to the laboratory&#39;s veterinarian and the mouse must be excluded from the experiment.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
3. Screening for Antidepressants
<ol>
	<li>On the day following cessation of the UCMS protocol, start administration of putative therapeutic pharmacological agents (i.e., escitalopram [15 mg/kg; i.p.; 3 weeks; on administration per day]30,50, or novel herbal treatment&#160;[NHT; 30 mg/kg; i.p.; 3 weeks; one administration per day]30,50).&#160; 
	NOTE: For doses of other drugs not included in this protocol see: flouxetine46, 47, 49, 89, 90, paroxetine51, imipramine35,41,42,43, desipramine18,44,45, maprotiline46,47, mianserin48, melatonin43,49, URB59754 and other natural compounds37,55,56,57,58.&#160; 
	NOTE: NHT is an herbal formula that was developed in our lab. It is composed of 4 constituents:&#160;&#160; 
	Crataegus Pinnatifida, Triticum Aestivum, Lilium Brownie, and Fructus Zizyphi Jujube. The formula is prepared by dissolving the constituents (acquired as freeze-dried granules) together in saline containing 1% DMSO to give a final concentration of 0.47 mg/ml (each)27,50.</li>
	<li>Include a control treatment group and administer saline (i.p.; 3 weeks; one injection per day) to this group.</li>
	<li>Calculate drug dose according to mice&#39; weight, as obtained in the preceding weighing.</li>
	<li>Administer drugs chronically (usually one drug administration per day via intraperitoneal injection [i.p.] for 3 weeks). 
	NOTE: There is no need to anesthetize the mice before the i.p. injection.</li>
	<li>Continue to weigh mice every 3 d; the last weighing should be 3 d before the last drug administration.</li>
</ol>
4. Assessment of Hedonic Tone in the SPT
<ol>
	<li>Following the treatment phase, remove each mouse from the home cage and place it individually in a cage filled with fresh sawdust and a piece of cotton wool for enrichment.</li>
	<li>Prepare two bottles, one with distilled water and another with 2% sucrose solution (other substance could be used: e.g., saccharin91, ethanol30). 
	NOTE: Each bottle should contain the same volume of fluid. Neither prior acclimation nor habituation phases are needed before the introduction of fluids.</li>
	<li>Weigh the two bottles and set them at the cage lid to allow mice ad libitum access to both solutions for a period of (one of the following): 24/48/72/144 h.</li>
	<li>Place the two bottles at both ends of the cage lid. Place rodent chow between the two bottles to allow ad libitum access to food.</li>
	<li>Replace bottles every 24 h, using sterile bottles with fresh fluid. 
	NOTE: As mice are housed individually there is no need to change the sawdust even after 144 h92.</li>
	<li>Switch nozzles&#39; positions every 12 h (when test duration is 24 h) or once a day (when test duration exceeds 24 h) to counterbalance the possibility that the results were confounded by position preference.</li>
	<li>Weigh bottles each day to estimate consumption from each bottle.</li>
	<li>Calculate sucrose preference as theratio of sucrose intake from total fluid intake (i.e., sucrose/sucrose + water).</li>
</ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Insofar as MDD is a widespread highly debilitating disorder, only partially addressed by current therapeutic options, the scientific quest for better treatments is still a pressing issue. Along with innovations in psychological techniques, additional pharmacotherapies are required for the large portion of patients who do not respond to the existing drugs. Meticulous animal models for depression are the key element in this task. Such models facilitate screenings for innovative antidepressants and expand the understanding of the etiology of the disorder. UCMS is one of the more prominent rodent models of depression. Its&#39; stature is exhibited by vast publications and notable insights12,18,82,95,96,97.
Anhedonia is one of the core symptoms of MDD22,23,74. A more severe anhedonic tone has been associated with poorer prognosis for MDD patients74,98. A major strength of UCMS as a model of depression is its ability to generate anhedonia31 as exemplified in the SPT. Sucrose is an innate reinforcer for various rodent species51,52,59,99; this explains the overall support of SPT as a realistic model of hedonic tone in rodents14,31,100. Due to the focal role of anhedonia in any animal model of depression, it has been suggested that when considering implementing UCMS into a lab, the first step should be a verification of the procedure ability to induce an anhedonic state12. This will facilitate a better standardization across labs and could be the foundation for future studies shedding more light on the disorder.
Another feature that supports the validity of UCMS as a model of depression is that the behavioral and molecular alterations induced by UCMS are reversed by chronic, but not acute, treatment with agents that have been previously verified as effective antidepressants12. The protracted therapeutic effect is similar to the effects of antidepressants in humans, which usually start manifesting only after 2-3 weeks of treatment101,102. In this regard, UCMS possess a superior face validity compared to the FST78 and the TST103, in which the effects are obtained also following acute treatment. Unlike the TST and the FST, this shortfall is not evident in the social defeat model of depression, which (along with UCMS) stand out as an excellent animal model of depression. However, compared to the FST and the TST, UCMS and other chronic stress models are much more lengthy and expensive.
Notable mice strains have been employed in UCMS studies. Among the more frequent strains are the C57BL/6 and the BALB/cJ21,34. We have utilized male ICR outbred mice as numerous studies have demonstrated the efficiency of UCMS in this strain. Moreover, the utilization of ICR outbred mice bolsters the ecological validity of the protocol, due to the high between animals genetic variability of this strain (compared to transgenic mice strains)30,75,104,105,106.
For suggested doses of other drugs not included in this protocol, but were used in other UCMS protocols see: flouxetine46,47,49,104,105, paroxetine51, imipramine35,41,42,43, desipramine18,44,45, maprotiline46,47, mianserin48, melatonin43,49, URB59754 and other natural compounds37,55,56,57,58.
There are several additional outcome measures frequently applied in UCMS protocols, among them: (i) FST: a measure for behavioral despair (see reference78 for protocol delineation); (ii) TST: another measure for behavioral despair (see reference103 for protocol delineation); (iii) splash test and evaluation of coat state: two indicators of grooming behavior and putative measures of apathy (see reference107 for protocol delineation); (iv) sociability/preference for social novelty: measures for social behavior108 (see reference109 for protocol delineation); and (v) sexual behavior: another measure for hedonic tone (see reference75 for protocol delineation). Furthermore, UCMS is used to assess neuromolecular, endocrine and other biological measures pertinent to depression50,72,110,111,112,113,114,115,116 (specifically, see references117,118 for BDNF assessment via ELISA protocol delineation).
There are several critical steps within the UCMS protocol: (i) it is vital that mice from all treatment groups will be housed together and not in separate cages. For example, if there are 3 treatment groups (e.g., escitalopram, NHT, and saline) there will be 2 mice from 2 of the groups and 1 mouse from the remaining group in each cage. The hybrid group housing will thwart the possibility that the results were underlain by the housing conditions and not the treatment per se. (ii) na&#239;ve mice must be housed separately from stressed mouse, since housing with stressed mice is stressful90,119,120 and, therefore, could impede or attenuate the stress manipulation. (iii) previous UCMS protocols have instructed single housing rather than group housing32,121; we have suggested the latter as single housing might cause further susceptibility to stress in mice and rats122,123,124,125. (iv) the UCMS schedule must be designed diligently to ensure unpredictability (i.e., random exposure to each stressor once a week); however, schedules could be modified throughout the experiment as long as the unpredictability is kept.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating condition, that has been indicated as the 11th cause of global burden from disease1, with a lifetime prevalence of 11&#8211;16%2,3. MDD has been associated with severe impairments on patients&#39; social and occupational functioning, diminished quality of life, numerous mental and physical disorders and increased risk for mortality4,5,6,7. There are several efficacious pharmacotherapies and psychological interventions for MDD; however, more than the third of the patients do not achieve remission with the existing therapeutic options8,9,10,11. Therefore, better mapping of the pathophysiology of MDD and development of novel drugs are still of utmost importance. In order to address these tasks scientifically validated animal models needs to be utilized.
Unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) is a renowned rodent paradigm used to induce depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors12,13,14,15. The main objective of UCMS is to generate behavioral deficits (such as anhedonia and behavioral despair12,15) in mice and rats, and promote screenings for potential therapeutic pharmacological agents. The procedure was first introduced by Katz16 and subsequently developed by Willner17,18, yielding vast behavioral and neurobiological outcomes reminiscing depressive symptomatology12. It was initially designed for rats and later accommodated to mice13,19. In the procedure, adolescent animals are chronically exposed to different unpredictable mild stressors. Subsequently, pharmacological agents are administered. Behavioral and biological indices are obtained upon treatment termination. One of the more prominent tests conducted following UCMS is the sucrose preference test (SPT). The SPT is based on rodents&#39; innate preference for the sweetened solution rather than water and is widely acknowledged as an essential translational model for assessing anhedonia12,18,20,21 (which is a core symptom in human depression22,23).
While entering the fourth decade since its introduction, UCMS has been applied on mice and rats in myriad studies. The majority of these studies employed UCMS as a method to induce depressive-like behaviors12,13,21,24. Studies have also employed the model to generate anxiogenic effects25,26,27,28,29. Sucrose and saccharin preferences are the main tests used to assess anhedonia following UCMS12,18,30,31,32,33. Other notable outcome measures that are highly incorporated in UCMS literature are: the tail suspension test (TST)28,34,35, the forced swim test (FST)28,34,36,37 (both measuring stress coping/behavioral despair), the open field test (OFT; measuring exploratory behavior, anxiety-like behavior and locomotor activity)25,28,38, the elevated plus maze (EPM; measuring anxiety-like behavior)25,39,40 and additional tests measuring depressive-like behaviors, anxiety-like behaviors, cognitive functioning and social behavior12. Chronic administration of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs; imipramine35,41,42,43, desipramine18,44,45), tetracyclic antidepressants (TeCAs; maprotiline46,47, mianserin48), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; fluoxetine46,47,49, escitalopram30,50, paroxetine51,52), melatonin43,49, agomelatine53, the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor URB59754 and several natural compounds30,37,50,55,56,57,58 have been demonstrated to reverse the UCMS-induced depressive- and anxiety-like symptoms. Overall, these therapeutic effects have not been obtained via acute treatments12 (e.g., paroxetine51,52, imipramine53,54,59,60, fluoxetine53, agomelatine53, URB59754, brofaromine60).
Stress exposure during childhood and adolescence is a major risk factor for the anterior formation of MDD (among several other psychiatric disorders) in adulthood61,62,63. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a major neuroendocrine system regulating the bio-behavioral response to stress64. Long-term stress during the sensitive neurodevelopmental periods of childhood and adolescence impairs the equilibrium of the HPA axis. It might provoke a state of enhanced sympathetic activation, unbalanced reactivity and hypercortisolemia lasting through the resting state; thus, rendering individuals vulnerable to the depression or anxiety-related psychopathologies65,66,67,68. UCMS adequately translates this pathogenesis: stress application during mice&#39; adolescence induces a long-term depressive-like susceptibility. Moreover, the behavioral deficits induced by UCMS, are underlain by significant alterations in HPA axis functioning (e.g., by causing a reduction in hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF; a protein highly involved in the equilibrium of the HPA axis69,70]30, or by impairing the regulation of corticosterone secretion to the blood71,72), in similarity to the pathophysiology in humans12,50,73.
UCMS has several bolstering features as a model for depression: e.g. (i) the elicitation of anhedonia (which is regarded an endophenotype of MDD23,74); (ii) UCMS enables to assess wide variety of depressive-like behaviors such as behavioral despair, reduced social behavior, deterioration in fur state and more34; and (iii) chronic (2-4 weeks), but not acute, administration of antidepressants following stress exposure could produce a protracted therapeutic effect parallel to the effect obtained in human patients by the same agents30,75,76,77.
These features strengthen the validity of UCMS compared to other animal models of depression. The FST78 and the TST79 are two models that are used either to induce or to assess depressive-like behavior. As models for inducing depressive-like behaviors they have clear shortfalls compared to UCMS; they do not prompt long-term behavioral changes and might merely reflect an adjustment to acute stress rather than yield a durable depressive-like manifestation76.
An alternative animal model of depression is the social defeat model. Unlike the FST and the TST this model (like UCMS) require the application of chronic stress (id est [i.e.], the recurrent subjection of the animal to aversive social encounters with dominant counterparts)76,77,80,81,82. The main advantage of the social defeat model is that it employs social stimuli as stressors, thus reflecting the role of psychosocial stress in the pathogenesis of human depression. Similar to UCMS, the social defeat model elicits long-term depressive-like behaviors and neuroendocrine alterations. Yet again parallel to UCMS, the social defeat-induced deficits could be reversed via chronic, but not acute, administration of antidepressants. Overall, there is large support for the utilization of both UCMS and social defeat as pre-clinical apparatuses for investigating the pathophysiology of depression76,77,81,82. However, a major shortfall of the social defeat model is that it could only be applied on male rodents, as females do not exhibit sufficient aggressive behavior toward each other83. Contrastingly, UCMS has been shown to produce several depressive-like effects on both male and female mice34.
Predictable chronic mild stress (PCMS) is another rodent model that enforces a regimen of daily recurring exposure to restraint stress28,84,85,86,87. Several studies have shown that PCMS increased anxiety-like behaviors28,87; albeit, there are contradictory reports vis-&#224;-vis PCMS ability to induce long-term depressive-like behaviors. Unlike UCMS, PCMS has produced less satisfactory results referring to its ability to induce an anhedonic-like state28,84,86. This is consistent with the human phenomenology, in which unpredictable stressors are more harmful than predictable ones88.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Heating lamp</td><td>Ikea</td><td>AA-19025-3</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Heating pillow</td><td>Sachs</td><td>EF-188B</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mice restrainer</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Portable electronic balance (*.** g)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Standard rubber stopper, size 5</td><td>Ancare</td><td>#5.5R</td><td>To avoid spillage during SPT</td></tr><tr><td>Straight open drinking tube (2.5&quot;)</td><td>Ancare</td><td>OT-100</td><td>To avoid spillage during SPT (insert drinking tube into rubber stopper)</td></tr><tr><td>2% sucrose solution</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>50 mL conical centrifuge tube</td><td></td><td></td><td>For the SPT</td></tr><tr><td>Pre-adolescent (approximately 20-days old) ICR outbred mice</td><td>Envigo</td><td>Hsd:ICR (CD-1)</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

the unpredictable chronic mild stress protocol for inducing anhedonia in mice

Depression is a highly prevalent and debilitating condition, only partially addressed by current pharmacotherapies. The lack of response to treatment by many patients prompts the need to develop new therapeutic alternatives and to better understand the etiology of the disorder. Pre-clinical models with translational merits are rudimentary for this task. Here we present a protocol for the unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) method in mice. In this protocol, adolescent mice are chronically exposed to interchanging unpredictable mild stressors. Resembling the pathogenesis of depression in humans, stress exposure during the sensitive period of mice adolescence instigates a depressive-like phenotype evident in adulthood. UCMS can be used for screenings of antidepressants on the variety of depressive-like behaviors and neuromolecular indices. Among the more prominent tests to assess depressive-like behavior in rodents is the sucrose preference test (SPT), which reflects anhedonia (core symptom of depression). The SPT will also be presented in this protocol. The ability of UCMS to induce anhedonia, instigate long-term behavioral deficits and enable reversal of these deficits via chronic (but not acute) treatment with antidepressants strengthens the protocol&#39;s validity compared to other animal protocols for inducing depressive-like behaviors.

In order to corroborate the efficacy of the UCMS procedure for inducing depressive-like deficits, a manipulation check was conducted. Male ICR outbred mice were randomly assigned to either UCMS or na&#239;ve conditions (4 weeks, as described in protocol&#160;2.2). Subsequently, the SPT (6 days, as described in protocol&#160;4) was administered to assess whether mice after undergoing UCMS demonstrated hedonic deficits. Shortly after, mice were sacrificed and the hippocampus was dissected out entirely for BDNF (a protein highly implicated in the pathophysiology of depression70,93) assessment via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). See Figure 1 for the study design.
Independent samples t-test revealed a significant difference between the groups in their sucrose preference (t(23) = 2.32, p &#60; 0.05). The UCMS group demonstrated diminished sucrose preference compared to the na&#239;ve group (see Figure 2A). This suggests that the UCMS protocol was effective in inducing anhedonia. Independent samples t-test on hippocampal BDNF levels revealed a significant difference between the groups (t(23) = 2.43, p &#60; 0.05). The UCMS group demonstrated diminished hippocampal BDNF levels compared to the na&#239;ve group (see Figure 2B). This suggests that the UCMS protocol led to the diminution in hippocampal BDNF levels, as evident in human depression94.
In another study from our lab, we examined the potential antidepressant-like effects of two drugs following UCMS protocol.30 Following the UCMS procedure (as described in 2.) male ICR outbred mice received chronic (3 weeks) treatment with the SSRI escitalopram (15 mg/kg; i.p.), NHT (30 mg/kg; i.p.; for more information regarding NHT see references25,30,50,75) or saline. Following treatment phase, the SPT was conducted and hippocampal BDNF levels were assessed. See Figure 3 for the study design.
Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) on sucrose preference revealed significant treatment (F(2,92) = 4.01, p &#60; 0.05) and UCMS &#215; treatment interaction (F(2,92) = 4.92, p &#60; 0.01) effects (see Figure 4A). Sidak post-hoc analysis revealed that the UCMS-saline group demonstrated a significant decrease in sucrose preference compared to the na&#239;ve-saline group (p &#60; 0.001); no decreases were observed in the UCMS-escitalopram and in the UCMS-NHT groups compared to the na&#239;ve groups (not significant [N.S.]). Additionally, the UCMS-saline group demonstrated decreased sucrose preference compared to both the UCMS-escitalopram (p &#60; 0.05) and the UCMS-NHT (p &#60; 0.001) groups. These suggest that both escitalopram and NHT normalized the UCMS-induced anhedonia.
Two-way ANOVA on hippocampal BDNF levels revealed significant UCMS (F(1,22) = 8.92, p &#60; 0.01), treatment (F(2,22) = 18.36, p &#60; 0.001) and UCMS &#215; treatment interaction (F(2,22) = 5.19, p &#60; 0.05) effects (see Figure 4B). Sidak post-hoc analysis revealed that the UCMS-saline group demonstrated a significant decrease in hippocampal BDNF levels compared to the na&#239;ve-saline group (p &#60; 0.001); no similar decreases were observed in the UCMS-escitalopram and in the UCMS-NHT groups compared to the na&#239;ve groups (N.S.). Additionally, the UCMS-saline group demonstrated decreased hippocampal BDNF levels compared to both the UCMS-escitalopram and the UCMS-NHT groups (p &#60; 0.001 in both contrasts). These suggest that both escitalopram and NHT normalized the UCMS-induced reduction in BDNF levels in the hippocampus.
<img alt="Figure 1" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/58184/58184fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1: A diagram depicting a possible experimental design. Following 1 week of acclimation, mice were randomly assigned to either UCMS or na&#239;ve conditions (persisting 4 weeks). Subsequently, sucrose preference was examined and mice were prepared for BDNF assessment. SPT: sucrose preference test; CD: cervical dislocation. <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/58184/58184fig1large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 2" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/58184/58184fig2.jpg" /> 
Figure 2: The effects of UCMS on sucrose preference and hippocampal BDNF levels.&#160;(A)&#160;Mice subjected to 4 weeks of UCMS demonstrated a significant reduction in sucrose preference compared to na&#239;ve mice. (B)&#160;Mice subjected to 4 weeks of UCMS demonstrated a significant reduction in hippocampal BDNF levels compared to na&#239;ve mice. n = 12&#8211;13 mice per group. Results are expressed as mean &#177; SEM. *p &#60; 0.05 <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/58184/58184fig2large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 3" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/58184/58184fig3.jpg" /> 
Figure 3: A diagram depicting a possible experimental design. Following 1 week of acclimation, mice were randomly assigned to either UCMS or na&#239;ve conditions (persisting 4 weeks). Subsequently, mice received chronic treatment with saline, escitalopram (15 mg/kg; i.p.) or NHT (30 mg/kg; i.p.), lasting 3 weeks (one administration per day). Following treatment, sucrose preference was examined and mice were prepared for BDNF assessment. SPT: sucrose preference test; CD: cervical dislocation. <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/58184/58184fig3large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 4" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/58184/58184fig4.jpg" /> 
Figure 4: The effects of chronic treatment with escitalopram and NHT on UCMS-induced reductions in sucrose preference and hippocampal BDNF levels. (A)&#160;Both escitalopram and NHT prevented the UCMS-induced reduction in sucrose preference; n = 15&#8211;17 mice per group. (B)&#160;Both escitalopram and NHT prevented the UCMS-induced reduction in hippocampal BDNF levels; n = 4&#8211;6 mice per group. Results are expressed as mean &#177; SEM. *p &#60; 0.05 ***p &#60; 0.001. This figure has been modified from a previously published study from our lab and is reprinted under PLoS ONE open access license (&#34;CC-BY&#34;) which allows reprint30. <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/58184/58184fig4large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
Supplemental Table 1: Schedule of unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS). <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/58184/Table_1.docx">Please click here to download this file.</a>

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The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice

Here we present the unpredictable chronic mild stress protocol in mice. This protocol induces a long-term depressive-like phenotype and enables to assess the efficacy of putative antidepressants in reversing the behavioral and neuromolecular depressive-like deficits.

Depression is a highly prevalent and debilitating condition, only partially addressed by current pharmacotherapies. The lack of response to treatment by ...

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Nanyang Technological University

Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

17.3K Views.  The Academic College Tel-Aviv-Yaffo. Het belangrijkste voordeel van deze techniek is dat het voldoende vertaalt belangrijke neurobiologische en gedragskenmerken betrokken bij de pathogenese, etiologie, en de behandeling van depressie. Deze methode kan helpen bij het beantwoorden van belangrijke vragen in het begrijpen van de pathofysiologie van angst en depressie en het bevorderen van de ontwikkeling van nieuwe farmacologische behandelingen. De implicatie van deze techniek uit te breiden voor de therapie van depressie, omdat het...

Video: The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice

Using Chronic Social Stress to Model Postpartum Depression in Lactating Rodents

Exposure to chronic stress is a reliable predictor of depressive disorders, and social stress is a common ethologically relevant stressor in both animals and humans. However, many animal models of depression were developed in males and are not applicable or effective in studies of postpartum females. Recent studies have reported significant effects of chronic social stress during lactation, an ethologically relevant and effective stressor, on maternal behavior, growth, and behavioral neuroendocrinology. This manuscript will describe this chronic social stress paradigm using repeated exposure of a lactating dam to a novel male intruder, and the assessment of the behavioral, physiological, and neuroendocrine effects of this model. Chronic social stress (CSS) is a valuable model for studying the effects of stress on the behavior and physiology of the dam as well as her offspring and future generations. The exposure of pups to CSS can also be used as an early life stress that has long term effects on behavior, physiology, and neuroendocrinology.

This article describes the use of chronic resident intruder social stress as an ethologically relevant paradigm to model postpartum depression and anxiety in lactating rodents.

Exposure to chronic stress is a reliable predictor of depressive disorders, and social stress is a common ethologically relevant stressor in both animals ...

A Mouse Model of Subchronic and Mild Social Defeat Stress for Understanding Stress-induced Behavioral and Physiological Deficits

Stressful life events often increase the incidence of depression in humans. To study the mechanisms of depression, the development of animal models of depression is essential. Because there are several types of depression, various animal models are needed for a deeper understanding of the disorder. Previously, a mouse model of subchronic and mild social defeat stress (sCSDS) using a modified chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) paradigm was established. In the paradigm, to reduce physical injuries from aggressors, the duration of physical contact between the aggressor and a subordinate was reduced compared to in the original CSDS paradigm. sCSDS mice showed increased body weight gain, food intake, and water intake during the stress period, and their social behaviors were suppressed after the stress period. In terms of the face validity of the stress-induced overeating and overdrinking following the increased body weight gain, the sCSDS mice may show some features related to atypical depression in humans. Thus, a mouse model of sCSDS may be useful for studying the pathogenic mechanisms underlying depression. This protocol will help establish the sCSDS mouse model, especially for studying the mechanisms underlying stress-induced weight gain and polydipsia- and hyperphagia-like symptoms.

Here, methods for developing a mouse model of subchronic and mild social defeat stress are described and used to investigate the pathogenic features of depression including hyperphagia- and polydipsia-like symptoms following increased body weight.

Stressful life events often increase the incidence of depression in humans. To study the mechanisms of depression, the development of animal models of ...

An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents

Chronic, unresolved stress is a major risk factor for the development of clinical depression. While many preclinical models of stress-induced depression have been reported, the unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) protocol is an established translationally-relevant model for inducing behavioral symptoms commonly associated with clinical depression, such as anhedonia, altered grooming behavior, and learned helplessness in rodents. The UCMS protocol also induces physiological (e.g., hypercortisolemia, hypertension) and neurological (e.g., anhedonia, learned helplessness) changes that are clinically associated with depression. Importantly, UCMS-induced depressive symptoms can be ameliorated through chronic, but not acute, treatment with common SSRIs. As such, the UCMS protocol offers many advantages over acute stress protocols or protocols that utilize more extreme stressors. Our protocol involves randomized, daily exposures to 7 distinct stressors: damp bedding, removal of bedding, cage tilt, alteration of light/dark cycles, social stresses, shallow water bath, and predator sounds/smells. By subjecting rodents 3-4 hr daily to these mild stressors for 8 weeks, we demonstrate both significant behavioral changes and poor health outcomes to the cardiovascular system. This approach allows for in-depth interrogation of the neurological, behavioral, and physiological alterations associated with chronic stress-induced depression, as well as for testing of new potential therapeutic agents or intervention strategies.

The unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) protocol is a validated method for studying behavioral and physiological changes associated with chronic stress and depressive symptoms. Eight weeks of imposition of the UCMS protocol induces behavioral changes and poor health outcomes in rodents of either gender.

Chronic, unresolved stress is a major risk factor for the development of clinical depression. While many preclinical models of stress-induced depression ...

A Chronic Immobilization Stress Protocol for Inducing Depression-Like Behavior in Mice

Depression is not yet fully understood, but various causative factors have been reported. Recently, the prevalence of depression has increased. However, therapeutic treatments for depression or research on depression is scarce. Thus, in the present paper, we propose a mouse model of depression induced by movement restriction. Chronic mild stress (CMS) is a well-known technique to induce depressive-like behavior. However, it necessitates a complex procedure consisting of a combination of various mild stresses. In contrast, chronic immobilization stress (CIS) is a readily accessible chronic stress model, modified from a restraint model that induces depressive behavior by restricting movement using a restrainer for a certain period. To evaluate the depressive-like behaviors, the sucrose preference test (SPT), the tail suspension test (TST), and the ELISA assay to measure stress marker corticosterone levels are combined in the present experiment. The described protocols illustrate the induction of CIS and evaluation of the changes in behavior and physiological factors for the validation of depression.

This article provides a simplified and standardized protocol for induction of depressive-like behavior in chronically immobilized mice by using a restrainer. In addition, behavior and physiological techniques to verify induction of depression are explained.

Depression is not yet fully understood, but various causative factors have been reported. Recently, the prevalence of depression has increased. However, ...

Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice

Mood disorders, including major depressive disorder, can be precipitated by chronic stress. The Y-maze barrier task is an effort-related choice test that measures motivation to expend effort and obtain reward. In mice, chronic stress exposure significantly impacts motivation to work for a higher value reward when a lesser value reward is freely available compared to unstressed mice. Here we describe the chronic corticosterone administration paradigm, which produces a shift in effortful responding in the Y-maze barrier task. In the Y-maze task, one arm contains 4 food pellets, while the other arm contains only 2 pellets. After mice learn to select the high reward arm, barriers with progressively increasing height are then introduced into the high reward arm over multiple test sessions. Unfortunately, most chronic stress paradigms (including corticosterone and social defeat) were developed in male mice and are less effective in female mice. Therefore, we also discuss chronic non-discriminatory social defeat stress (CNSDS), a stress paradigm we developed that is effective in both male and female mice. Repeating results with multiple distinct chronic stressors in male and female mice combined with increased usage of translationally relevant behavior tasks will help to advance the understanding of how chronic stress can precipitate mood disorders.

The Y-maze barrier task is a behavior test that examines motivation to expend effort for reward. Here, we discuss testing multiple well-validated chronic stressors including chronic corticosterone and social defeat stress with this behavior, as well as the novel chronic non-discriminatory social defeat stress (CNSDS), which is effective in females.

Mood disorders, including major depressive disorder, can be precipitated by chronic stress. The Y-maze barrier task is an effort-related choice test that ...

Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model (CDM)

Major depressive disorder is one of the most prevalent forms of mental illnesses and causes tremendous individual suffering and socioeconomic burden. Despite its importance, current pharmacological treatment is limited, and novel treatment options are urgently needed. One key factor in the search for potential new drugs is evaluating their anti-depressive potency in appropriate animal models. The classical Porsolt forced swim test was used for this purpose for decades to induce and assess a depressive-like state. It consists of two short periods of forced swimming: the first to induce a depressed state and the second on the following day to evaluate the antidepressant effect of the agent given in between the two swim sessions. This model might be suitable as a screening tool for potential antidepressive agents but ignores the delayed onset of action of many antidepressants. The CDM was recently established and represented a modification of the classical test with notable differences. Mice are forced to swim for 5 consecutive days, following the idea that in humans, depression is induced by chronic rather than by acute stress. In a resting period of several days (1-3 weeks), animals develop sustained behavioral despair. The standard read-out method is the measurement of immobility time in an additional delayed swim session, but several alternative methods are proposed to get a broader view of the mood status of the animal. Multiple analysis tools can be used targeting behavioral, molecular, and electrophysiological changes. The depressed phenotype is stable for at least 4 weeks, providing a time window for rapid but also subchronic antidepressant treatment strategies. Furthermore, alterations in the development of a depressive-like state can be addressed using this approach. CDM, therefore, represents a useful tool to better understand depression and to develop novel treatment interventions.

Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model CDM

The chronic despair mouse model (CDM) of depression consists of repetitive forced swim sessions and another delayed swim phase as a read-out. It represents a suitable model for induction of a chronic depressive-like state stable for at least 4 weeks, amendable to evaluate subchronic and acute treatment interventions.

Major depressive disorder is one of the most prevalent forms of mental illnesses and causes tremendous individual suffering and socioeconomic burden. ...

Modeling Early Life Trauma in Mice to Study PTSD and Social Avoidance Behavior

Chronic Social Defeat Stress in Early Adolescent Male Mice

Physical abuse and trauma in childhood is reported in as many as 1 in 7 children and is a major risk factor for the development of psychiatric diseases, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), in adolescence and adulthood. Hallmark behavioral symptoms of PTSD include avoidance of cues and contexts associated with trauma. The ability to model long-lasting changes in the brain due to early life trauma is critical to determine potential circuit and molecular targets for the modulation of resultant symptoms. This manuscript describes a protocol for modeling early life physical and psychological trauma in early adolescent male mice that produces socially avoidant behavior. Adolescent male mice are exposed to repeated aggressive encounters followed by overnight housing, which provides an added dimension of psychological stress, with an adult male aggressor every day for 10 days. Repeated social defeat paired with overnight housing by the aggressor in early adolescence produces robust social avoidance behavior that lasts throughout adulthood. Social avoidance can be readily quantified in early adolescents, adolescents, and adults using open field social interaction testing. Early adolescent social defeat robustly produces more than 60% susceptible animals in adulthood.

This protocol details how to perform 10 day chronic social defeat stress in early adolescent male mice to produce long-lasting social avoidance in adulthood in more than 60% of mice.

Physical abuse and trauma in childhood is reported in as many as 1 in 7 children and is a major risk factor for the development of psychiatric diseases, ...

Establishing and Validating a Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Rat Model

Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress in Rats based on the Mongolian medicine

Depression is a prevalent affective disorder and constitutes a leading cause of global disability. The limitations of current pharmacological interventions contribute to the substantial health burden attributed to this condition. There is a pressing need for a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms of depression, making pre-clinical models with translational potential highly valuable. Mongolian medicine, a subset of traditional medicine, posits that disease occurrence is closely tied to the equilibrium of wind, bile, and Phlegm. In this study, we introduce a protocol for the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) method in rats. Within this framework, rats are subjected to a series of fluctuating, mild stressors to induce a depression-like phenotype, mimicking the pathogenesis of human depression. Behavioral assays employed in this protocol include the sucrose preference test (SPT), indicative of anhedonia-a core symptom of depression; the open field test (OFT), which measures anxiety levels; and the Morris water maze test (MWM), which evaluates spatial memory and learning abilities. The CUMS method demonstrates the capability to induce anhedonia and to cause long-term behavioral deficits. Furthermore, this protocol is more aligned with Mongolian medical theory than other animal models designed to elicit depression-like behavior. The development of this animal model and subsequent research provide a robust foundation for future innovative studies in the realm of Mongolian medicine.

Author Spotlight: Establishing a Rodent Model for Investigating Depression Factors in Traditional Mongolian Medicine

This protocol outlines a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model for depression based on Mongolian medical theory, along with methods for validating behavioral tests.

Depression is a prevalent affective disorder and constitutes a leading cause of global disability. The limitations of current pharmacological ...

Medicine

Inducing Depression-like Behavior in a Mouse via Immobilization Stress

Source: Son, H., et al., <a href="https://app-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/v/59546">A Chronic Immobilization Stress Protocol for Inducing Depression-Like Behavior in Mice.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (2019).
This video demonstrates the method of inducing chronic stress in a mouse through repeated immobilization, leading to corticosterone release and reduced glutamate receptor activity in neurons, which results in depression-like behavior.

Source: Son, H., et al., A Chronic Immobilization Stress Protocol for Inducing Depression-Like Behavior in Mice. J. Vis. Exp. (2019).
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Induction and Evaluation of Depression in Mice Through Chronic Stress Exposure

To induce depression, expose mice daily to any two of the following seven stressors for 21 consecutive days. Expose mice to food deprivation by emptying the feed of each cage, or water deprivation by removing the water bottle for 24 hours. Expose mice to restrained stress, where the mouse is restrained in a small plastic tub for three hours, or an empty cage with the padding removed. As another option, expose mice to wet and soiled cages by pouring water into each cage and keeping wet for 24 hours.Expose mice to crowded cages, in which five mice are placed in one cage for 25 hours. For the last option, expose mice to ice cold swimming by forcing each mouse to swim in a clear glass aquarium with ice water for five minutes. Finally, record the coat state and body weight weekly until the end of modeling at day 21, and calculate the total score of the coat's state.

The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice

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