Natural and Experimental Evidence Drives Marmosets for Research on Psychiatric Disorders Related to Stress

Marmosets, studied in their natural habitat using non-invasive fecal hormone measurements, are mainly monogamous, live in stable social groups with female competition and male cooperation, and form social bonds similar to humans, making them a potential model for social stress disorders. Laboratory studies confirm these behaviors and show sexually dimorphic responses to challenges influenced by age and social context. Their good adaptation to captivity, twin births, small size, and life cycle advantages have led to their use as animal models for psychiatric diseases like major depression. Juvenile marmosets have been used to develop a depression model and test Ayahuasca as an alternative treatment, with positive results encouraging further studies.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Knowledge of the behavioral ecology of marmosets carried out in their natural habitat associated with the advent of a non-invasive technique for measuring steroid hormones in feces has made a significant contribution to understanding their social relationships and sexual strategies. These studies showed that they are mainly monogamous, live in relatively stable social groups according to a social hierarchy in which females compete and males cooperate, and form social bonds similar to humans, which makes this species a potential animal model to study disorders related to social stress. In addition, laboratory studies observed the expression of behaviors similar to those in nature and deepened the descriptions of their social and reproductive strategies. They also characterized their responses to the challenge using behavioral, cognitive, physiological, and genetic approaches that were sexually dimorphic and influenced by age and social context. These findings, added to some advantages which indicate good adaptation to captivity and the benefits of the birth of twins, small size, and life cycle in comparison to primates of the Old World, led to their use as animal models for validating psychiatric diseases such as major depression. Juvenile marmosets have recently been used to develop a depression model and to test a psychedelic brew called Ayahuasca from the Amazon rainforest as an alternative treatment for major depression, for which positive results have been found which encourage further studies in adolescents. Therefore, we will review the experimental evidence obtained so far and discuss the extension of the marmoset as an animal model for depression.