Expression of BDNF and trkB in the hippocampus of a rat genetic model of vulnerability (Roman low‐avoidance) and resistance (Roman high‐avoidance) to stress‐induced depression

摘要

IntroductionThe selective breeding of Roman High‐ (RHA) and Low‐Avoidance (RLA) rats for, respectively, rapid versus poor acquisition of the active avoidance response has generated two distinct phenotypes differing in many behavioral traits, including coping strategies to aversive conditions. Thus, RLA rats are considered as a genetic model of vulnerability to stress‐induced depression whereas RHA rats are a model of resilience to that trait. Besides the monoamine hypothesis of depression, there is evidence that alterations in neuronal plasticity in the hippocampus and other brain areas are critically involved in the pathophysiology of mood disorders.