Sleep abnormalities in mouse models of depression: a systematic review

Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in people with major depressive disorder (MDD) and contribute to a vicious cycle that exacerbates both conditions. Electroencephalographic (EEG)-based sleep features of people with MDD are well described in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. However, sleep abnormalities in mouse models of MDD remain poorly characterized. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the face validity of mouse models of MDD in relation to sleep alterations. Among the 22 articles we identified, the most consistently represented features of sleep disturbances in mouse models were increased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM (NREM) sleep fragmentation. A blunted response to sleep deprivation was reported but only in a few studies and requires further investigation. Data regarding delta and theta power were limited and showed heterogeneous results. By providing a comprehensive summary of all mouse models in the field, our study serves as a resource to confirm the utility of animal models and guide researchers in studying sleep alterations in MDD.