Animal models of major depressive disorder and the implications for drug discovery and development

Introduction: Depression is a highly debilitating psychiatric disorder that affects the global population and causes severe disabilities and suicide. Depression pathogenesis remains poorly understood, and the disorder is often treatment-resistant and recurrent, necessitating the development of novel therapies, models and concepts in this field. Areas covered: Animal models are indispensable for translational biological psychiatry, and markedly advance the study of depression. Novel approaches continuously emerge that may help untangle the disorder heterogeneity and unclear categories of disease classification systems. Some of these approaches include widening the spectrum of model species used for translational research, using a broader range of test paradigms, exploring new pathogenic pathways and biomarkers, and focusing more closely on processes beyond neural cells (e.g. glial, inflammatory and metabolic deficits). Expert opinion: Dividing the core symptoms into easily translatable, evolutionarily conserved phenotypes is an effective way to reevaluate current depression modeling. Conceptually novel approaches based on the endophenotype paradigm, cross-species trait genetics and ‘domain interplay concept’, as well as using a wider spectrum of model organisms and target systems will enhance experimental modeling of depression and antidepressant drug discovery. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Cross-species Analyses of Intra-species Behavioral Differences in Mammals and Fish

Multiple species display robust behavioral variance among individuals due to different genetic, genomic, epigenetic, neuroplasticity and environmental factors. Behavioral individuality has been extensively studied in various animal models, including rodents and other mammals. Fish, such as zebrafish (Danio rerio), have recently emerged as powerful aquatic model organisms with overt individual differences in behavioral, nociceptive and other CNS traits. Here, we evaluate individual behavioral differences in mammals and fish, emphasizing the importance of cross-species analyses of intraspecies variance in experimental models of normal and pathological CNS functions. © 2019 IBROAVK laboratory is supported by the Southwest University (Chongqing, China) Zebrafish Platform construction funds. This research is supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant 19-15-00053 . KAD is supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research ( RFBR) grant 18-34-00996 , Fellowship of the President of Russia and Special Rector’s Fellowship for SPSU PhD Students. DBR receives the CNPq research productivity grant (305051/2018-0), and his work is also supported by the PROEX/CAPES fellowhip grant 23038.004173/2019-93 (Brazil). MP receives funding from the British Academy (UK) . BDF is supported by a CAPES Foundation studentship (Brazil). FC is supported by the Father’s Foundation and the Fast Data Sharing-2036 programs. AVK is the Chair of the International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC) Special 2018-2019 Task Force that coordinated this multi-laboratory collaborative project

The role of auditory and vibration stimuli in zebrafish neurobehavioral models

Strongly affecting human and animal physiology, sounds and vibration are critical environmental factors whose complex role in behavioral and brain functions necessitates further clinical and experimental studies. Zebrafish are a promising model organism for neuroscience research, including probing the contribution of auditory and vibration stimuli to neurobehavioral processes. Here, we summarize mounting evidence on the role of sound and vibration in zebrafish behavior and brain function, and outline future directions of translational research in this field. With the growing environmental exposure to noise and vibration, we call for more active use of zebrafish models for probing neurobehavioral and bioenvironmental consequences of acute and long-term exposure to sounds and vibration in complex biological systems

The role of auditory and vibration stimuli in zebrafish neurobehavioral models

Strongly affecting human and animal physiology, sounds and vibration are critical environmental factors whose complex role in behavioral and brain functions necessitates further clinical and experimental studies. Zebrafish are a promising model organism for neuroscience research, including probing the contribution of auditory and vibration stimuli to neurobehavioral processes. Here, we summarize mounting evidence on the role of sound and vibration in zebrafish behavior and brain function, and outline future directions of translational research in this field. With the growing environmental exposure to noise and vibration, we call for more active use of zebrafish models for probing neurobehavioral and bioenvironmental consequences of acute and long-term exposure to sounds and vibration in complex biological systems