Construction of Perimenopausal Depression Animal Models and Mechanism of Action of Traditional Chinese Medicine： A Review
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20251126
- VernacularTitle:围绝经期抑郁动物模型构建及中药作用机制研究进展
- Author:
Xiaoting LI
1
;
Shouzhu XU
1
;
Jun KE
1
;
Zhan ZHANG
1
;
Bao XIN
1
Author Information
1. Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine， Xianyang 712046，China
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
perimenopausal depression;
animal model;
evaluation method;
traditional Chinese medicine mechanism
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2026;32(4):258-267
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Perimenopausal depression （PMD） is an affective disorder that occurs in women during the transition from sexual maturity to old age. It can induce various complications， such as insomnia and cognitive decline. The etiology of PMD is complex. Although multiple hypotheses have been proposed， there is still no unified theory that fully explains its pathogenesis. Research into its mechanisms relies heavily on animal experiments， and establishing reliable animal models is crucial for experimental studies. Appropriate animal models can better simulate human pathophysiological states， rapidly evaluate the efficacy and safety of drugs and intervention methods， grasp the essence of the disease， and uncover its intrinsic connections， thereby exploring more advanced intervention strategies. However， there is a lack of systematic review and summarization of literature related to model construction. Additionally， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， adhering to the principles of ''syndrome differentiation and treatment'' and ''holistic concept''， has shown significant efficacy in treating PMD. In recent years， research exploring and analyzing its therapeutic mechanisms has been increasing. Therefore， to gain a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of PMD animal modeling methods and the mechanisms of TCM， this paper reviewed Chinese and English literature on PMD animal models and mechanisms of TCM in PMD treatment. It summarized the construction methods of single-factor and multi-factor PMD models， and discussed the advantages and disadvantages of each modeling approach. Furthermore， it delved into the mechanisms of TCM intervention in PMD， revealing that TCM formulas primarily exert their effects by regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis， hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis， gut-brain axis， cell signaling pathways， neural circuits， hormone levels， and neurotransmitter levels. This review aims to provide a reference for future research in this field. In summary， by summarizing the progress in the methods for PMD animal model construction and the mechanisms of TCM， the paper seeks to offer new insights into the mechanistic research of TCM intervention in PMD.
