Octopamine mediates sugar relief from a chronic-stress-induced depression-like state in Drosophila.

Chronic, uncontrollable stress can result in psychiatric syndromes, including anxiety and major depressive disorder, in humans and mammalian disease models. Similarly, several days of chronic stress can induce depression-associated behavioral alteration in Drosophila accompanied by changes in biogenic amine levels in the adult brain. In our chronic stress paradigm, flies are subjected to 3 days of repetitive phases of 300 Hz vibrations combined with overcrowding and food deprivation.

Serotonin modulates a depression-like state in Drosophila responsive to lithium treatment.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects millions of patients; however, the pathophysiology is poorly understood. Rodent models have been developed using chronic mild stress or unavoidable punishment (learned helplessness) to induce features of depression, like general inactivity and anhedonia. Here we report a three-day vibration-stress protocol for Drosophila that reduces voluntary behavioural activity.