Academic Journal
Ultrasound model of depression in rodents: A comprehensive analysis of validity, pathogenic mechanisms, and potential for translation to humans.
| Title: | Ultrasound model of depression in rodents: A comprehensive analysis of validity, pathogenic mechanisms, and potential for translation to humans. |
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| Authors: | Avdaseva A; Department of Medical Nanobiotechnology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia. Electronic address: a.avdaseva@mail.ru., Ushakova V; Department Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow 119034, Russia; Federal Research Centre 'Fundamentals of Biotechnology' of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named After N.A. Alekseev, Zagorodnoe Highway 2, Moscow 115191, Russia; Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia. Electronic address: ushakovavm@yandex.ru., Abramova O; Department Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow 119034, Russia; Federal Research Centre 'Fundamentals of Biotechnology' of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named After N.A. Alekseev, Zagorodnoe Highway 2, Moscow 115191, Russia. Electronic address: abramova.ol@serbsky.ru., Zorkina Y; Department Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow 119034, Russia; Federal Research Centre 'Fundamentals of Biotechnology' of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named After N.A. Alekseev, Zagorodnoe Highway 2, Moscow 115191, Russia. Electronic address: zorkina.ya@serbsky.ru., Zubkov E; Department Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow 119034, Russia; Federal Research Centre 'Fundamentals of Biotechnology' of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia. Electronic address: zubkov.e@serbsky.ru., Makarov V; Federal Research Centre 'Fundamentals of Biotechnology' of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia. Electronic address: makarov@inbi.ras.ru., Chekhonin V; Department of Medical Nanobiotechnology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Department Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow 119034, Russia. Electronic address: chekhoninnew@yandex.ru., Morozova A; Department Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V.P. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow 119034, Russia; Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named After N.A. Alekseev, Zagorodnoe Highway 2, Moscow 115191, Russia. Electronic address: morozova.a@serbsky.ru. |
| Source: | Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews [Neurosci Biobehav Rev] 2026 Jul; Vol. 186, pp. 106718. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Apr 27. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article; Review |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Pergamon Press Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 7806090 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1873-7528 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 01497634 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Neurosci Biobehav Rev Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: New York Ny : Pergamon Press Original Publication: Fayetteville, N. Y., ANKHO International Inc. |
| MeSH Terms: | Depression*/etiology , Depression*/physiopathology , Ultrasonic Waves*/adverse effects , Depressive Disorder*/etiology , Depressive Disorder*/physiopathology , Disease Models, Animal*, Animals ; Humans ; Rodentia |
| Abstract: | Depression poses a major global health challenge, highlighting the urgent need for valid animal models to elucidate its pathogenesis and develop novel treatments. This review offers a comprehensive characterization and validation of an original rodent model of depression induced by chronic exposure to variable-frequency ultrasound (20-45 kHz), termed the ultrasound model (US-model). We hypothesize that this model uniquely recapitulates a state of "information uncertainty", providing a highly relevant framework for studying depression amid modern urban environments. Based on extensive experimental data collected over 10 years (2013-2024), the model has been systematically evaluated using three key criteria for validity. First, the US-model demonstrates face validity, recapitulating core behavioral abnormalities such as anhedonia, behavioral despair, social withdrawal, anxiety, and cognitive deficits. Second, its construct validity is supported by the faithful reproduction of key pathophysiological mechanisms, including monoamine system dysfunction, impaired neuroplasticity, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity. Finally, the model exhibits strong predictive validity, showing sensitivity to various established classes of antidepressants (e.g., fluoxetine, clomipramine), novel compounds (e.g., vindeburnol, neuropeptides), electroconvulsive therapy, and agents with antioxidant or anti-inflammatory properties. Compared to classic models, the US-model may offer several potential advantages such as a relatively high degree of standardization and an arguably more ethical profile, as it is less invasive. In conclusion, the US-model of depression represents a reliable and reproducible tool to investigate the pathogenesis of affective disorders and screen new therapeutic agents. (Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Antidepressants; Depression; Disease models; Emotional stress; Prenatal programming; Ultrasound waves |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260429 Date Completed: 20260715 Latest Revision: 20260715 |
| Update Code: | 20260716 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2026.106718 |
| PMID: | 42055241 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1873-7528 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2026.106718 |