Neuroimaging insights from Wistar-Kyoto rats under chronic mild stress: morphological and metabolic brain correlates of treatment-resistant depression.
Scientific reports March 27, 2026 Gianmauro Palombelli, Valentina Zecca, Marta Boffa et al. 1 citation
In a rat model of treatment-resistant depression (Wistar-Kyoto rats exposed to chronic mild stress), brain scans revealed metabolic and structural changes distinct from non-depressed controls. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed reduced glutamate, glutamine, and taurine in the prefrontal cortex and decreased glutamine and choline compounds in the hippocampus, along with increased myo-inositol in the prefrontal cortex. Diffusion tensor imaging indicated higher mean diffusivity in both regions, consistent with demyelination or axonal loss, and lower fractional anisotropy in the hippocampus, suggesting compromised white-matter integrity. These findings mirror depression- and stress-related brain changes in humans, supporting the model's use for testing novel treatments like rTMS and psychedelics.