Development of a nonhuman primate model of depression by serotonin deficiency

• Project/Area Number: 22650087
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Fusional social brain science
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: NAKAMURA Katsuki 京都大学, 霊長類研究所, 教授 (70243110)
• Project Period (FY): 2010 – 2011
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2011)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,320,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000); Fiscal Year 2011: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000); Fiscal Year 2010: ¥1,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000)
• Keywords: 社会行動 / うつ病 / マーモセット

Research Abstract

We attempted to develop a new nonhuman primate model of depression. First, cornflakes were given to marmoset monkeys because cornflakes contained less tryptophan. However, we failed to induce any symptoms in the marmosets. Second, marmosets were injected with Reserpine, which could reportedly induce symptoms of depression in humans. Reserpine induced some symptoms in marmoset monkeys similar to those of depression, such as reduction of the general activity, droopy eyelid, etc. Because of the small number of subjects, further experiments are needed.