Depression models in experimental animals

Depression is a mental disorder that is estimated  by the World Health Organization to affect 350 million  people worldwide. But its pathogenesis and underlying  mechanisms have not been understood yet. To present a  satisfying explanation for the causes and treatments of  these sorts of diseases animal models can be a powerful  model for the researchers.  Experimental animal research has been frequently  used, in related with clinical studies, to test a number of  hypotheses regarding the etiology of depression and its  related behaviors. In the literature, experimental animal  models about depression were described. These are  chronic mild stress, forced swimming test, learned  helplessness, tail suspension test, psycho-stimulant drug  withdrawal and olfactory bulbectomy. In the oral  presentation, it was summarized the experimental  animal models that are used most commonly for  depression, and discussed their advantages and  limitations.  In conclusion, it seems that some experimental  animal models such as chronic mild stress and forced  swimming test in several experiments have been using  for investigating depression etiology and treatment and  the models are very useful for searching the disease.