Selective effects of citalopram in a mouse model of stress-induced anhedonia with a control for chronic stress

Behav Pharmacol. 2006 May;17(3):271-87. doi: 10.1097/00008877-200605000-00008.

Abstract

A stress-induced decrease in sucrose preference in rodents is regarded as an analog of anhedonia, a key symptom of depression. We investigated the effects of citalopram, administrated via drinking water (15 mg/kg/day), in a mouse model of stress-induced anhedonia. In this model, chronic stress induces anhedonia in a subset of C57BL/6N mice, while the remaining animals do not show a hedonic deficit or other depressive-like behaviors, although they are exposed to the same stressors as the anhedonic mice. Pre-stress and post-stress treatment with citalopram counteracted the development and maintenance of anhedonia and rescued normal floating in the forced swim test, demonstrating an antidepressant-like action. During the post-stress treatment, citalopram selectively increased sucrose preference and intake on the fourth week of treatment in anhedonic mice without affecting non-anhedonic animals. Citalopram also decreased elevated water consumption in the anhedonic group. Citalopram, administered 1 week before and during a 4-week stress procedure, decreased the percentage of anhedonic mice and reduced the increase of water intake in stressed mice. This study suggests that our chronic stress paradigm can serve as a model of anhedonia, in which antidepressant treatment is selectively effective in animals with a hedonic deficit.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Chronic Disease
  • Citalopram / pharmacology*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Drinking / drug effects
  • Hindlimb Suspension
  • Immersion
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Restraint, Physical
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology*
  • Sucrose
  • Swimming / psychology

Substances

  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
  • Citalopram
  • Sucrose