Figure 4. Schematic representation of animal group assignments and behavioural tests.

Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control+saline, control+escitalopram, CUMS+saline and CUMS+escitalopram (n = 6 per group). Two weeks after the beginning of the CUMS regimen, rats received escitalopram (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline treatment once a day for another 4 weeks while the CUMS procedure was continued. Sucrose preference test and forced swimming test were measured before stress (0 week), before drug administration (2 week) and at the end of the experiment (6 week). Morris water maze and MRI scan were carried out at the end of the experiment.