title: Animal models of major depression and their clinical implications.
abstract: Major depressive disorder is a common, complex, and potentially life-threatening mental disorder that imposes a severe social and economic burden worldwide. Over the years, numerous animal models have been established to elucidate pathophysiology that underlies depression and to test novel antidepressant treatment strategies. Despite these substantial efforts, the animal models available currently are of limited utility for these purposes, probably because none of the models mimics this complex disorder fully. It is presumable that psychiatric illnesses, such as affective disorders, are related to the complexity of the human brain. Here, we summarize the animal models that are used most commonly for depression, and discuss their advantages and limitations. We discuss genetic models, including the recently developed optogenetic tools and the stress models, such as the social stress, chronic mild stress, learned helplessness, and early-life stress paradigms. Moreover, we summarize briefly the olfactory bulbectomy model, as well as models that are based on pharmacological manipulations and disruption of the circadian rhythm. Finally, we highlight common misinterpretations and often-neglected important issues in this field.
authors.affiliation: MTA-PTE, Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Pécs, Medical School, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; Structural Neurobiology Research Group, Szentágothai János Research Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8240 Risskov, Denmark. Electronic address: czeh.boldizsar@pte.hu.
authors.forename: Boldizsár
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Czéh
authors.affiliation: German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.affiliation: Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8240 Risskov, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ove
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Wiborg
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Pécs, Medical School, 7624 Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Mária
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans
keywords: Animal model; CMS; Chronic stress; Depression; Mood disorder