title: Mouse models for studying depression-like states and antidepressant drugs.
abstract: Depression is a common psychiatric disorder, with diverse symptoms and high comorbidity with other brain dysfunctions. Due to this complexity, little is known about the neural and genetic mechanisms involved in depression pathogenesis. In a large proportion of patients, current antidepressant treatments are often ineffective and/or have undesirable side effects, fueling the search for more effective drugs. Animal models mimicking various symptoms of depression are indispensable in studying the biological mechanisms of this disease. Here, we summarize several popular methods for assessing depression-like symptoms in mice and their utility in screening antidepressant drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Georgetown University Medical School, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Carisa L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bergner
authors.forename: Amanda N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Smolinsky
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Brett D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Dufour
authors.forename: Rupert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Justin L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Laporte
authors.forename: Allan V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Kalueff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006120:Grooming / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013315:Stress, Psychological
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents