Evaluating Effects of EPO in Rodent Behavioral Assays Related to Depression - Tissue-Protective Cytokines: Methods and Protocols - page 126

2 Materials

2.1 Treatments

1. Rat recombinant erythropoietin.
2. Carbamylated erythropoietin: prepared according to ( 31 ) with
some modifications. Vehicle: Phosphate buffered saline with
0.1% bovine serum albumin (molecular biology grade).
3. One-ml syringes.
4. 26 G-needles.

2.2 Rat Forced-Swim

1. Two clear (Plexiglas) cylinders, 25-cm diameter, 65-cm height
(see Note 1).
2. Nearby water source and hose or tubing.
3. Sturdy cart or table.
4. White divider to place between cylinders.
5. Clean cages with tops for drying animals.
6. Paper and cloth towels.
7. Video camera and tripod.
8. Thermometer.
9. Timer.

Test

2.3 Mouse FST

1. Two 4-l glass beakers, each with a mark 10 cm from the
bottom.
2. Thermometer.
3. Large tub of water (e.g., a clean rodent chow bin).
4. Two clean cages.
5. Paper towels.
6. Video camera and tripod.
7. Timer.
8. Stopwatch.

2.4 Mouse
Hyponeophagia

1. Carnation sweetened condensed milk diluted 1:3 in water.
2. Water bottles (125 ml size).
3. Bottle sipper tops (with ball-bearings).
4. Timer.
5. Clean mouse cages and tops (number of cages = number of
mice to be tested).

1. Test cages (28 × 17 × 12 cm) (number of cages for each
day = number of mice to be tested).
2. Cage tops.
3. Camera, tripod.

2.5 Mouse Novel
Object Recognition