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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model (CDM)
Published on: September 23, 2021
Gene interactions in depression: pathways out of darkness
Mario Harvey1, Pascal Belleau, Nicholas Barden
1Department of Neuroscience, CHUL Research Centre and Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada.
Abstract:
Mood disorders, including major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Hypotheses about the neurobiology of mood disorders have been postulated and putatively associated genes identified. Recently, the immune-related gene encoding purinergic receptor P2X, ligand-gated ion channel, 7 (P2RX7) has been genetically associated with major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. New candidate genes and emerging gene networks and pathways involved in the aetiology of mood disorders point to a major role for neuronal survival and the adaptive immune systems.
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