Cell-Based Systems of Depression: An Overview

From several years, cellular models have been used solely or in combination with animal studies to investigate the mechanisms of depression and antidepressant drug action. Moreover, such models based on known mechanism could be used as a first screening platform for searching new agents with putative antidepressant activity. For those purposes, primary neuronal cell models (cortical or hippocampal neurons), neuronal cell lines (rat clonal pheochromocytoma PC12, human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y, mouse hippocampal HT-22), primary glial cell cultures (astrocytes, microglia), and glial cell lines (rat glioma C6, microglial BV2) could be engaged. In this book chapter an overview on the used cellular models in experimental studies of depression will be presented. There will be an attempt to standardize all available protocols for particular cell systems with the emphasis on advantages and limitations of each model.