The “Learned Helplessness” Model in Rats: Possibilities and Limitations in Assessing a Depressive-Like State and Effects of Antidepressants

Abstract

The “learned helplessness” (LH) model in rats is widely used in a battery of tests to assess depression-like behaviour and the effects of antidepressants. The model is considered to be suffi ciently valid, though having some limitations with reproducibility. This review discusses the possibilities of using the model for assessing the symptoms of a depressive-like state and the pathogenesis of depression, as well as the effects of antidepressants. The factors affecting the reproducibility of the LH model are described, the most important of which is the different sensitivity of animals to stress. Several protocols for the induction and testing of LH, which are used by different research teams, are presented. Due to the diffi culty of comparing the results obtained using different LH protocols, LH models should be standardized for use in individual laboratories. LH models are worth using in preclinical studies of potential drugs exhibiting antidepressant activity.

Current methods of modeling depression in animals and approaches to the study of their efficiency in biomedical research (review of the problem)

“…Для создания модели достаточно два агрессора на 12-15 животных. Конфликтную ситуацию следует создавать несколько раз (2)(3)(4)(5)(6). Одной из модификаций является модель сенсорного контакта.…”

“…Относительно новая нейрокининовая теория связана с включением в патогенез депрессии пептидных нейротрансмиттеров -тахикининов. Нейрокины обнаруживаются в различных областях мозга, в том числе в эмоциогенных структурах и зонах, богатых моноаминами, что позволяет предположить их регуляторную роль в метаболизме нейромедиаторов, участвующих в генезе психических патологий, в том числе депрессий [3,5,6].…”