Stress is considered to be one of the common pathogenic factors leading to mental disorders. Acute severe stress events or chronic distress could lead to depression and psychiatric disorders. Therefore, the establishment of stress animal models in the laboratory to mimic the stress suffering in humans would be beneficial for better understanding the etiology and mechanisms underlying stress-induced mental disorders. In addition, the development of powerful tools such as optogenetics and chemogenetics has made more rapid progress to reveal the critical neural circuits in regulating the pathogenesis of stress-induced disorders. This review firstly summarized the well-established different types of stress animal models widely used in the laboratory including acute stress models, chronic stress models, models of surgical stress, drug-induced stress models, and genetic mutation-associated stress models. Moreover, we also summarized the latest progress in understanding the characteristics and mechanisms of stress-related neurocircuits that are critical for discovering novel therapeutic strategies for stress-induced mental disorders.

目的 拟构建稳定可靠的应激致抑郁与认知功能损害的啮齿类动物模型,为解析应激反应的神经生理学机制提供研究基础.方法 采用优化的慢性社交挫败应激(CSDS)模型构建方法,并结合社交互动、糖水偏好、强迫游泳、悬尾实验、旷场实验、高架十字实验、水迷宫等行为学方法对模型小鼠进行评价.结果 成功筛选到较高比例的应激敏感型抑郁小鼠模型,发现抑郁模型小鼠伴随有明显的体质量下降、血糖升高等生理指标改变以及空间记忆等认知功能的下降.结论 成功建立并优化了小鼠CSDS模型,为探讨应激致抑郁的神经机制以及发掘抑郁相关新靶点奠定了实验基础.