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Review
. 2021 May 23:2:100013.
doi: 10.1016/j.crneur.2021.100013. eCollection 2021.

Understanding stress: Insights from rodent models

Fatin Atrooz  1 , Karim A Alkadhi  1 , Samina Salim  1
Affiliations
Review

Understanding stress: Insights from rodent models

Fatin Atrooz et al. Curr Res Neurobiol. .

Abstract

Through incorporating both physical and psychological forms of stressors, a variety of rodent models have provided important insights into the understanding of stress physiology. Rodent models also have provided significant information with regards to the mechanistic basis of the pathophysiology of stress-related disorders such as anxiety disorders, depressive illnesses, cognitive impairment and post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, rodent models of stress have served as valuable tools in the area of drug screening and drug development for treatment of stress-induced conditions. Although rodent models do not accurately reproduce the biochemical or physiological parameters of stress response and cannot fully mimic the natural progression of human disorders, yet, animal research has provided answers to many important scientific questions. In this review article, important studies utilizing a variety of stress models are described in terms of their design and apparatus, with specific focus on their capabilities to generate reliable behavioral and biochemical read-out. The review focusses on the utility of rodent models by discussing examples in the literature that offer important mechanistic insights into physiologically relevant questions. The review highlights the utility of rodent models of stress as important tools for advancing the mission of scientific research and inquiry.

Keywords: BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor; CAMKIV, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV; CREB, cAMP response element binding protein; CRP, C-reactive protein; EPM, elevated plus maze; ERK1/2, extracellular signal-regulated kinase; FST, forced swim test; HPA, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis; IL-6, interleukin 6; Inflammation; LD, light/dark; Mental health; NMDA, N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid; OF, open field; RNS, reactive nitrogen species; ROS, reactive oxygen species; Rodent behavior; Stress; Synaptic plasticity; TNFα, tumor necrosis factor alpha; Trauma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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