Depression models in experimental animals

Abstract

Depression is a mental disorder that is estimated by the World Health Organization to affect 350 million people worldwide. But its pathogenesis and underlying mechanisms have not been understood yet. To present a satisfying explanation for the causes and treatments of these sorts of diseases animal models can be a powerful model for the researchers. Experimental animal research has been frequently used, in related with clinical studies, to test a number of hypotheses regarding the etiology of depression and its related behaviors. In the literature, experimental animal models about depression were described. These are chronic mild stress, forced swimming test, learned helplessness, tail suspension test, psycho-stimulant drug withdrawal and olfactory bulbectomy. In the oral presentation, it was summarized the experimental animal models that are used most commonly for depression, and discussed their advantages and limitations. In conclusion, it seems that some experimental animal models such as chronic mild stress and forced swimming test in several experiments have been using for investigating depression etiology and treatment and the models are very useful for searching the disease.

Keywords

• Animal models,Depression,Chronic mild stress,Forced swimming test

References

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