Non-Human Animal Models of Depression and Methods of Use Thereof

摘要

The disclosure provides non-human optogenetic animal models of depression. Specifically, non-human animals each expresses a light-responsive opsin in a neuron of the animal are provided. The animal models are useful for identifying agents and targets of therapeutic strategies for treatment of depression. Examples of using the non-human animals expressing light-responsive opsin including Halorhodopsin family of light-responsive chloride pumps and Channelrhodopsin family of light-responsive cation channel proteins are described.

主权项

1. A method for identifying a candidate agent treating depression in an individual, comprising:
contacting a rodent that expresses an active optogenetic inhibitor of neuronal activity in ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopaminergic neurons with a test agent, and determining the effect of the test agent on a behavior of the rodent in a depression assay, wherein reduction in a depressive behavior of the rodent contacted with the test agent, compared to the behavior of a control rodent that has not been contacted with the test agent, indicates that the test agent is a candidate agent for treating depression.