Sex Differences in Anxiety and Depression: What Can (and Cannot) Preclinical Studies Tell Us?

MIR F; RIVAROLA M A

SEXES

MDPI

Lugar: Basel; Año: 2022

2411-5118

In recent years, the gender perspective in scientific research and sex differences in biologicalstudies on emotional disorders have become increasingly important. However, sex bias in basicresearch on anxiety and depression is still far from being covered. This review addresses the studyof sex differences in the field of anxiety and depression using animal models that consider thisissue so far. What can preclinical studies tell us and what are their main limitations? First, wedescribe the behavioral tests most frequently used in preclinical research to assess depressive-like andanxiety-like behaviors in rodents. Then, we analyze the main findings, strengths, and weaknesses ofrodent models of anxiety and depression, dividing them into three main categories: sex chromosomecomplement-biased sex differences; gonadal hormone-biased sex differences; environmental-biasedsex differences. Regardless of the animal model used, none can reproduce all the characteristics ofsuch complex and multifactorial pathologies as anxiety and depressive disorders; however, eachanimal model contributes to elucidating the bases that underlie these disorders. The importance ishighlighted of considering sex differences in the responses that emerge from each model