Abstract
A wide diversity of animal models has been used to examine antidepressant activity. These range from relatively simple models sensitive to acute treatment, to highly sophisticated models that reputedly model some aspect of depressive illness and which yield a positive response to prolonged, chronic, drug treatment. In recent years antidepressant drug research has focused on the search for antidepressant therapy that has a more rapid onset of action. To be relevant, therefore, animal models must measure the time course of drug action. This review examines the claims of animal models to be sensitive to chronic drug treatment and considers their relevance. First, the review addresses the criteria necessary to examine the validity of animal models of depressive illness. Second, those animal models sensitive to chronic antidepressant treatment are reviewed with respect to their validity as animal models of either depressive illness and / or antidepressant activity. In particular, the development and utility of two ethologically-relevant animal models, the resident-intruder and social hierarchy paradigms, are described in detail. These models of rodent social and agonistic behaviour demonstrate that acute and chronic treatment with antidepressant drugs (regardless of their acute pharmacological activity) induce diametrically opposite changes in rodent agonistic behaviour. It is argued that the common ability of chronic treatment to increase rodent aggression (which in turn results in increased hierarchical status in closed social groups) most likely reflects the increased assertiveness and associated externalization of emotions expressed during recovery from depressive illness. Finally, findings that relate observed behavioural changes to underlying neurochemical changes are briefly reviewed.
Keywords: antidepressant treatment, animal models of depression, chronic drug treatment, ethology, agonistic behaviour, social hierarchy, resident-intruder
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Animal Models of Depressive Illness: The Importance of Chronic Drug Treatment
Volume: 11 Issue: 2
Author(s): P. J. Mitchell and P. H. Redfern
Affiliation:
Keywords: antidepressant treatment, animal models of depression, chronic drug treatment, ethology, agonistic behaviour, social hierarchy, resident-intruder
Abstract: A wide diversity of animal models has been used to examine antidepressant activity. These range from relatively simple models sensitive to acute treatment, to highly sophisticated models that reputedly model some aspect of depressive illness and which yield a positive response to prolonged, chronic, drug treatment. In recent years antidepressant drug research has focused on the search for antidepressant therapy that has a more rapid onset of action. To be relevant, therefore, animal models must measure the time course of drug action. This review examines the claims of animal models to be sensitive to chronic drug treatment and considers their relevance. First, the review addresses the criteria necessary to examine the validity of animal models of depressive illness. Second, those animal models sensitive to chronic antidepressant treatment are reviewed with respect to their validity as animal models of either depressive illness and / or antidepressant activity. In particular, the development and utility of two ethologically-relevant animal models, the resident-intruder and social hierarchy paradigms, are described in detail. These models of rodent social and agonistic behaviour demonstrate that acute and chronic treatment with antidepressant drugs (regardless of their acute pharmacological activity) induce diametrically opposite changes in rodent agonistic behaviour. It is argued that the common ability of chronic treatment to increase rodent aggression (which in turn results in increased hierarchical status in closed social groups) most likely reflects the increased assertiveness and associated externalization of emotions expressed during recovery from depressive illness. Finally, findings that relate observed behavioural changes to underlying neurochemical changes are briefly reviewed.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Mitchell J. P. and Redfern H. P., Animal Models of Depressive Illness: The Importance of Chronic Drug Treatment, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2005; 11 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612053382250
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612053382250 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Targeting MCP-1 to Reduce Vascular Complications of Obesity
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Meet Our Editorial Board Member:
Applied Clinical Research, Clinical Trials and Regulatory Affairs Animal Models of Lupus and Lupus Nephritis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Arsenic Immunotoxicity and Immunomodulation by Phytochemicals: Potential Relations to Develop Chemopreventive Approaches
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Disease-Related Changes in TRPV1 Expression and Its Implications for Drug Development
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Genes, Environment, Intermediate Phenotypes, and the Pathogenesis of Diabetic Nephropathy
Current Pharmacogenomics Ages of Onset of Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Fragile X Premutation Carriers
Current Psychiatry Reviews Dysregulation of SIRT-1 Signaling in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmune Disorders: A Systematic Review of SIRTUIN Activators as Potential Immunomodulators and their Influences on other Dysfunctions
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Coupling of Conjugating Enzymes and Efflux Transporters: Impact on Bioavailability and Drug Interactions
Current Drug Metabolism Effects of Maternal Choline Supplementation on the Septohippocampal Cholinergic System in the Ts65Dn Mouse Model of Down Syndrome
Current Alzheimer Research Patent Selections
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery Current and Future Applications of Probiotics
Current Nutrition & Food Science Alpha-7 Nicotinic Receptors in Nervous System Disorders: From Function to Therapeutic Perspectives
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Purinergic Signalling: What is Missing and Needed Next? The Use of Transgenic Mice, Crystallographic Analysis and MicroRNA
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets The Purinome, a Complex Mix of Drug and Toxicity Targets
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Nanocarriers in Improved Heparin Delivery: Recent Updates
Current Pharmaceutical Design Epigenomic-Basis of Preemptive Medicine for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Current Genomics Biologics: An Update and Challenge of Their Pharmacokinetics
Current Drug Metabolism From Physiome to Pathome: A Systems Biology Model of Major Depressive Disorder and the Psycho-Immune-Neuroendocrine Network
Current Psychiatry Reviews Therapies for Neurological Disease in the Mucopolysaccharidoses
Current Gene Therapy