Role of emotionality on inter and intrastrain variations in imipramine response. a comparative study in Balb/c and Swiss mice.

Association between emotionality and effect of imipramine on immobility time in forced swimming test was investigated in Swiss and Balb/c mice. Mice of both the strains were segregated into normal emotional (mean +/- 1SD), low emotional (> mean + 1SD) and high emotional (< mean - 1SD) based on their performance with respect to each indices of emotionality in novel arena and elevated plus maze. Baseline immobility and effect of imipramine (20 mg/kg, po) on immobility time was evaluated in these emotionally different groups of mice using forced swimming test model. Baseline immobility time of low emotional mice was found to be significantly less (P<0.01) and that of high emotional mice was found to be significantly more (P<0.01) when compared to normal emotional mice of both the strains. Immobility time after imipramine administration was found to be significantly less (P<0.05) with low emotional mice and significantly more (P<0.01) with high emotional mice when compared to normal emotional mice of both the strains.