Central hypocretin/orexin administration alleviates sleep/wake disturbances, anhedonia, and neuroinflammation in an animal model of seasonal affective disorder.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a major depressive disorder recurring in fall and winter due to daytime light deficiency. To investigate underlying mechanisms of SAD, we previously developed a diurnal model using Nile grass rats (Arvicanthis niloticus), in which a winter-like dim daylight condition (dimLD) increased depression-like behaviors and neuroinflammation, while attenuating central orexinergic activity compared to grass rats housed in a summer-like bright daylight condition (brLD).

Materials and methods

The present study tested the hypothesis that the behavioral and neuroinflammatory responses induced by the winter-like dimLD condition are due to attenuated central orexinergic output. Male and female grass rats housed in dimLD or brLD received

SUBMITTER: Costello A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12794707 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature