Open University

3 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Behavior

The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior

Roni Yankelevitch-Yahav^1,2, Motty Franko², Avrham Huly², Ravid Doron^2,3,4

¹School of Psychological Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, ²School of Behavioral Sciences, Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, ³Department of Education and Psychology, The Open University of Israel, ⁴School of Health and Life Sciences, Hadassah Academic College

This protocol describes the forced swim test, which is used for the study of depressive-like behavior in rodents. This procedure involves placing an animal in a container filled with water that eventually will lead to the exhibition of immobility behavior, which is considered to reflect behavioral despair.

Environment

Modification and Application of a Leaf Blower-vac for Field Sampling of Arthropods

Yi Zou¹, Mario D. van Telgen¹, Junhui Chen², Haijun Xiao², Joop de Kraker³, Felix J. J. A. Bianchi⁴, Wopke van der Werf¹

¹Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Wageningen University, ²Institute of Entomology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, ³Department of Science, Open University, ⁴Farming Systems Ecology, Wageningen University

Assessment of arthropod abundance in crops is critical for investigating population dynamics and species interactions. Here we describe the modification and application of a leaf blower-vac for suction sampling of arthropods in rice.

Behavior

The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice

Or Burstein¹, Ravid Doron^1,2

¹School of Behavioral Science, The Academic College Tel-Aviv-Yaffo, ²Department of Education and Psychology, Open University

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.