title: Decreased intracranial self-stimulation in a new animal model of endogenous depression.
abstract: Neonatal treatment of rats with clomipramine may produce adult animals which model endogenous depression. We report here that a major factor of depression in humans, the diminished capacity for pleasure, appears present in these rats. At age 7 months, bar-press responding for rewarding hypothalamic stimulation is reduced across a range of intensities. At age 4 or 5 months this effect is not seen, although other behavioral abnormalities are present at the younger age. The delayed onset of diminished intracranial self-stimulation may relate to the gradual insidious onset of endogenous depression in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Altanta, GA 30306.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neill
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagler
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kors
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hartley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012653:Self Stimulation / Q000502:physiology*