Ambulatory activity was measured as the total counts of beam interruptions in the horizontal sensor during each consecutive 5 min session. Centre zone activity and rearing activity, repetitive standing with the forepaws up, during the ambulation test of each rat were scored as well. For the analysis of grooming 17-AAG activity, forepaw and head grooming was

considered as rostral grooming, and body, legs, and tail/genital grooming as caudal grooming. 14 The activity chamber was cleaned with 70% ethanol after each use to eliminate any olfactory cues of the previously tested rat. Three days after the ambulatory activity test, rats were subjected to the behavioural assessment in an elevated plus maze, http://www.selleckchem.com/products/MK-1775.html a plus shaped acryl maze with two opposite open arms (50 cm in length and 10 cm

in width) and two opposite closed arms (50 cm in length, 10 cm in width, and 31 cm in height), extending out from a central platform (10 cm × 10 cm). The whole apparatus was elevated 50 cm above the floor. The test procedure was followed as previously described.15 Each rat was placed in the centre of the maze facing one of the open arms, and then allowed to explore the open or closed arms of the maze for 5 min. The time spent in the different arms was recorded, respectively. Four paws had to be inside the entrance line to each arm, which signalled the start of the time spent in the specific arm, and then the end time was recorded when all four paws were outside the line again. The maze was cleaned with 70% ethanol after each test to prevent influences of the previously tested rat. Three days after the elevated plus maze test, rats were subjected to a forced swim test, according to the method previously described.16 Each rat was allowed to swim in a glass cylinder (54 cm in height and 24 cm in diameter)

filled with water in 40 cm of depth (23–25 °C) for 5 min. All test sessions were recorded by a video camera from the side of the cylinder. Duration of rat’s immobility in the water was scored from videotapes by a trained observer who was blinded to the experimental conditions. Immobility was defined as the state in which rats were judged to be making only the movements necessary to keep their head above the surface. Swimming was defined as the state in which rats were triclocarban judged to be making active swimming motions more than necessary to merely maintain its head above water, and struggling to be climbing, usually directed against the walls. Rats were placed in the test room at least 2 h prior to each test to minimize unwanted stress effects, and all behavioural assessments were performed between 09:00 AM and 12:00 PM of the day to avoid the influences of circadian variances. A week after the end of behavioural sessions, rats were rapidly decapitated after brief anaesthesia in a carbon dioxide chamber.