NEONATAL TREATMENT WITH CLOMIPRAMINE AND DEPRESSION: A REVIEW OF PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL FINDINGS

JUSTEL, N. R.; BENTOSELA, M.; MUSTACA, A. E.; RUETTI, E. M.

Interdisciplinaria

Centro Interamericano de Investigaciones Psicológicas y Ciencias Afines

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2010

0325-8203

The present work describes the main results about a new putative animal model of depression. This model stems, paradoxically, from the administration of an antidepressant, clomipramine, to neonatal rats from postnatal day 8 to 21. When these animals reach adulthood, they show behavioral disruptions which could be interpreted as depressive, such as hyperactivity, a decrease in pleasure seeking, sleep abnormalities, etc. Possible neurophysiological and neuroendocrinal mechanisms involved are analyzed. This animal model is promising, even though it does not provide a complete analogy between animals and humans.