Animal model of a mood disorder and screening method

Abstract

Disclosed are a protein and a gene each of which is a factor involved in latent infection with a herpesvirus. An antibody against the factor was detected in approximately 50% of patients suffering from mental disorders, whereas the antibody was hardly detected in healthy persons. Further, a mouse having SITH-1 introduced therein developed a mental disorder such as a manic-depressive illness or depression-like disorder. Based on these findings, it is possible to provide a method for objectively determining a mental disorder and an animal model of a mental disorder.

1 . An animal model of a mood disorder comprising:
 an animal;   wherein the animal is produced by transfer of a nucleic acid, wherein the nucleic acid selected from:
 (a) a nucleic acid encoding a protein having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1; or 
 (b) a nucleic acid comprising an open reading frame region having the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2. 
   
     
     
         2 . The animal model of the mood disorder according to  claim 1 , wherein the animal is a mammal. 
     
     
         3 . The animal model of the mood disorder according to  claim 1 , wherein the animal is a mouse. 
     
     
         4 . The animal model of the mood disorder according to  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid is transferred into glial cells in the central nervous system. 
     
     
         5 . A screening method for performing screening for a candidate substance for a psychotropic agent, comprising the steps of:
 (i) administering to the animal according to  claim 1 , a subject substance;   (ii) determining whether or not the mental disorder of the animal model is cured or improved; and   (iii) determining that the subject substance is a candidate substance for a psychotropic agent when the metal disorder of the animal model is determined to be cured or improved.   
     
     
         6 . The screening method for performing screening for the candidate substance for the psychotropic agent according to  claim 5 , wherein in step (ii) the animal is subjected to a tail suspension test. 
     
     
         7 . The screening method for performing screening for the candidate substance for the psychotropic agent according to  claim 6 , wherein the animal has a shorter immobile time during the tail suspension test which indicates that the animal is in a manic state. 
     
     
         8 . The screening method for performing screening for the candidate substance for the psychotropic agent according to  claim 5 , wherein in step (ii) the animal is subjected to a forced swimming test. 
     
     
         9 . The screening method for performing screening for the candidate substance for the psychotropic agent according to  claim 8 , wherein the animal has a longer immobile time which indicates that the animal is in a depressive state.