title: Utilization of Diurnal Rodents in the Research of Depression.
abstract: Preclinical Research Most neuropsychiatric research, including that related to the circadian system, is performed using nocturnal animals, mainly laboratory mice and rats. Mood disorders are known to be associated with circadian rhythm abnormalities, but the mechanisms by which circadian rhythm disruptions interact with depression remain unclear. As the circadian system of diurnal and nocturnal mammals differs, we previously suggested that the utilization of diurnal animal models may be advantageous for understanding these relations. During the last 10 years, we and others established the validity of several diurnal rodent species as a model for the interactions between circadian rhythms and depression. Diurnal rodents respond to photoperiod manipulation in a similar way to humans, the behavioral outcome is directly related to the circadian system, and treatment that is effective in patients is also effective in the model. Moreover, less effective treatments in patients are also less effective in the model. We, therefore, suggest that using diurnal animal models to study circadian rhythms-related affective disorders, such as depression, will provide new insights that will hopefully lead to the development of more effective treatments. Drug Dev Res 77 : 347-356, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer, Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Carmel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bilu
authors.affiliation: School of Behavioral Sciences, Tel Aviv-Yaffo College, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Einat
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Noga
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kronfeld-Schor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021081:Chronobiology Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D017440:Photoperiod; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity
keywords: affective disorders; circadian rhythms; depression; diurnal animal models; sand rats; seasonal affective disorder