Chronobiological dimensions of an olfactory bulbectomized rodent animal model for agitated depression

Olfactory bulbectomized (OBX) rodents mimic some behavioral and biochemical features of chronic agitated hyposerotonergic depression. These effects of OBX include increased activity levels, altered serotonin metabolism, chang es in sexual behavior, and elevated corticosteroid levels. Here we summariz e published research demonstrating chronobiological changes in OBX rodents, and present new data addressing effects of OBX on additional elements of b iological clock function. The chronobiological consequences of OBX make thi s model useful for testing hypotheses about possible causal relationships b etween variation in biological clock function and variation in behavioral a nd biochemical traits associated with clinical depression.