Effect of Chronic Administration of Antidepressants on Duration of Immobility in Rats Forced to Swim

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Abstract
Chronic administration of imipramine and desipramine significantly reduced the duration of immobility in rats forced to swim in comparison with acute administration. However, amitriptyline did not potentiate the reductive effect of chronic administration. Chlorimipramine, a selective serotonin uptake inhibitor, did not affect the duration of immobility in both the acute and chronic administration. On the other hand, the chronic administration of chlorpromazine, haloperidol and diazepam enhanced the duration of immobility, whereas their acute administration had no effect on it. Sulpiride reduced and enhanced the present results suggest that the chronic administration of drugs to rats in a forced swimming test can clarify the characteristics of the psychotropic drugs.