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Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model (CDM)
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Altered glial plasticity in animal models for mood disorders
Boldizsár Czéh1, Eberhard Fuchs, Gabriele Flügge
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Pécs, Medical School, H-7624 Pécs, Ifjuság út 13. Hungary. czeh.boldizsar@pte.hu.
Current Drug Targets
|April 20, 2013
Summary
Glial cells in fronto-limbic brain areas are altered in mood disorders. Understanding these glial changes in animal models may reveal new targets for antidepressant drug development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Clinical evidence links glial changes in fronto-limbic brain regions to mood disorder pathophysiology.
- Glial alterations are observed in both human patients and animal models of depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review experimental findings on glial cell morphology and function in animal models of mood disorders.
- To consolidate current knowledge on glial cell involvement in depression.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on glial cells in animal models of mood disorders.
- Analysis of molecular and cellular data concerning astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, NG2-positive cells, and microglia.
Main Results:
- All major glial cell types (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, NG2-positive cells, microglia) show alterations in mood disorder models.
- These alterations affect both the structure (morphology) and activity (functioning) of glial cells.
Conclusions:
- Glial cells are significantly implicated in the pathophysiology of mood disorders.
- Further understanding of glial cell alterations could lead to novel therapeutic targets for depression and other mood disorders.
