A Novel Video-Tracking Analysis System for the Behavioral Despair Test

A novel video-tracking analysis system (VTAS) was applied to measure the gross immobility time in behavioral despair test. The measurement could be done automatically, and the final results could be exported or printed as a complete report. In the present study, the behavioral despair test including forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) were done in the mice with the help of VTAS. The clinical antidepressant, paroxetine hydrochloride tablet, was used as a model drug to test the parameters and to validate the reliability of the VTAS. After administration of model drug, the gross immobility time reduced significantly as compared to the vehicle control group. The results obtained from the VTAS were consistent with previous reports. Based on these data, the novel video-tracking analysis system, described in this study, provides a reliable, accurate, convenience, and inexpensive tool for the test of behavioral despair in rats or mice.