Abstract

Depression is one of the most prevalent mood disorders that is characterized by a devastation, low mood, languor, inactivity and anhedonia. Until recently, many animal models of depression have been suggested on the basis of theory of depression. Most of animal models can be classified with stress, pharmacological and genetic models. To develop animal models of depression is very important for discovery and development of effective anti-depressants. This article focuses on stress and genetic animal models in depression. The first part of article describes traditional stress models: learned helplessness, forced swimming test, chronic mild stress and maternal separation. In the second part, it is known that genetic factors play a role in etiology of depression, and several genetic models have been introduced: Twik-1-related K+ channel, prostate apoptosis response 4, P11 gene. Since these models are now utilized to examine the etiology and pathophysiology of depression as well as an application of therapeutic medications, an availability of the reliable and valid animal models is critical in preclincial and clinical research of the depression. (Korean J Str Res 2007;15:121∼126)

• Keywords: Animal model, Depression, Stress model, Genetic model