Analysis of Drug Treatments in a Potential Bipolar Rat Model Open Access
Dagalakis, Urania (2011)
Published
Abstract
Abstract
Analysis of Drug Treatments in a Potential Bipolar Rat Model
By Urania Dagalakis
One of the major problems in studying Bipolar Disorder (BD) is
developing accurate
models in which to test out new therapies and understand its
prognosis. Through
generations of selective breeding, Hyperactive (HYPER) rats exhibit
periods of
hyperactivity followed by periods of depressed activity which
emulate the characteristics
of BD. The first experiment tested if the administration of the BD
medication, lithium
citrate, was possible in this model using palatable treats (such as
gelatin, fudge, cat food,
etc) to mask its taste. While this investigation elucidated a
possible drug administration
method, the lithium was not able to reach significant levels to
produce the predicted
reduction in activity. The results showed that there was an
increase in hyperactivity of
dark as well as light ambulatory motor activity in the experimental
HYPER rats
compared to previously monitored non-experimental HYPER rats. The
second
experiment tested the effects of different BD medications on this
model through the
administration of three drug imbued rat chows (Lithium Citrate,
Valproate, and
Carbamazepine) along with a control chow group. The data from
Experiment 2 reveals an
increase in hyperactivity in dark and light ambulatory activity in
the four rat groups, with
the lithium citrate chow rats exhibiting some of the highest amount
of motor activity.
The lack of hyperactivity in the control chow group may have been
due to the non-
responsive rats placed into this group due to limitations in the
quantity of HYPER rats
available. The defensive withdrawal results did not yield any
statistically significant
effects between the four rat chow groups. Through these experiments
it is clear that more
testing and analysis needs to be done to assess the potential of
the HYPER rats as a
model for BD.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................
1
Methods......................................................................................................................
6
Experiment 1. Lithium
Administration...........,..................................................................
6
Experiment 2. Lithium, Valproate, Carbamazepine
Administration........................................ 9
Results.......................................................................................................................
18
Experiment 1. Lithium
Administration..............................................................................18
Experiment 2. Lithium, Valproate, Carbamazepine
Administration........................................19
Discussion...................................................................................................................
22
References
.................................................................................................................
40
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