Animal models of mood disorders: Recent developments.
OBJECTIVE
The wide spectrum of disruptions that characterizes depression and bipolar illness highlights the difficulties researchers are posed with as they try to mimic these disorders in the laboratory. Nonetheless, numerous attempts have been made to create rodent models of mood disorders, or at least models of the symptoms of depression and bipolar illness. Despite many advances, however, there are no satisfactory animal models available. The need for improved animal models for identifying new antidepressants and providing insights into the neuropathology underlying the disease is critical. This review focuses on the attempts to improve current paradigms and also illustrates examples where current paradigms are used to uncover novel molecular targets of antidepressants.


RESULTS
Currently, there is a shift away from traditional animal models to a more focused research dealing with an endophenotype-style approach, genetic models and incorporation of new findings from human neuroimaging and genetic studies.


CONCLUSIONS
Endophenotype-based modelling of depression and bipolar illness is opening up more tractable avenues for understanding the neurobiological and genetic bases of these disorders. Further, advances in the clinical dissection of the psychiatric illnesses using molecular genetics, coupled with functional neuroimaging techniques, promises to yield better translational animal models and hence more fruitful therapeutic targets.
Cryan
John F
JF
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. j.cryan@ucc.ie
Slattery
David A
DA
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010641:Phenotype; D024683:Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain / Q000235:genetics; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D024683:Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain; C103742:potassium channel protein TREK-1