Rats were tested in the forced swim test in 35 or 20 cm of water or in an open field to evaluate the effects of different intensities of stress on blood gases, electrolytes, and metabolic indices, compared to nontested controls. Animals tested in the open field did not differ from controls on any measure. Immersion in deep water resulted in a greater mixed metabolic and respiratory acidemia (low pH, low bicarbonate, high pCO2), higher glucose and higher lactate levels than immersion in shallow water which in turn resulted in greater metabolic acidemia (low pH, low bicarbonate), and higher glucose and lactate levels than occurred in open field or control animals. In contrast to immersion in deep water, immersion in shallow water resulted in an initial hypocapnia followed by a hypercapnia. Immersion in deep water also resulted in higher potassium levels, lower bicarbonate and total carbon dioxide levels, and a higher anion gap than immersion in shallow water, testing in the open field, or in controls. In a second study, lactate infusion resulted in a metabolic alkalemia (increased pH and bicarbonate levels) and an increase in total carbon dioxide levels. These results indicate that test parameters from forced swim testing (e.g., water depth) can significantly affect the rat's physiological response to testing. The effects of forced swim testing are not simply due to general stress; and the physiological changes seen in conjunction with forced swim testing (e.g., acidemia) are not due to lactate alone.