| Background: Current rodent models of depression are inadequate tosupport further research on human major depressive disorder. Due to acloser genetic and neuroanatomical homology with humans, non-humanprimate models are better suited to this purpose.Objectives: To construct and validate a non-human primate model ofmajor depressive disorder in the adult female Macaca fascicularis throughthe use of vertical chamber confinement; behavior and hypothalamicpituitary adrenal axis function were assessed to validate the model.Design: A20-week case-control study.Settings: A supervised facility housing a total population of149Macaca fascicularis housed across seven free enclosures.Subjects:10adult female Macaca fascicularis subjects randomlyselected for focal observation.Main outcome measures: The average durations and frequencies ofnine behavioral categories were obtained by focal observation.Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal function via plasma cortisol and ACTHlevels was also assessed by immunoassay. Result: After12weeks of vertical-chamber confinement, the averageduration and average frequency of social behavior decreased, while theaverage duration and frequency of anxious behavior increased in thechambered group as compared to the control group. Anaclitic behavior wasincreased, while the ingestion behavior was decreased after confinement.Plasma cortisol levels were higher in chambered subjects as compared tothe control group during confinement; however, there was no significantdifference in ACTH levels between the two groups.Conclusion: These results provide the first evidence of spective thatvertical chamber confinement is risky and stressful experiences and thesestressors may be critical that give birth to depressive behavior inchambered monkeys. To huge extent, this primate animal model offersessential opportunities to promote our understanding and enhanceprevention of human depressive disorders by elucidating the etiology andneurobiology of major depressive disorder. |
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