Establishment and Validation of a CUMS Model for Depression-like Behavior in Honeybees: A Tool for Pollinator Stress Research

Honeybees (Apis mellifera), as key pollinating insects, are undergoing population decline, which has become a critical environmental challenge affecting ecosystem stability and sustainable agriculture. Moreover, a potential association exists between the physiological and behavioral responses of honeybees induced by environmental stress and the pathological mechanisms of depression. The pathogenesis of depression remains complex and not fully understood, and a stable animal model is a prerequisite for investigating its mechanisms and screening antidepressants. This study aimed to examine the alterations induced by CUMS and to evaluate behavioral changes related to depression-like phenotypes and neurotransmitter levels in the honeybee brain. The results showed that CUMS treatment induced typical depression-like behaviors and downregulated monoamine neurotransmitters in honeybees, consistent with observations in mammalian depression models. Fluoxetine was found to reverse these abnormalities, further supporting the validity of the model. This study provides a novel tool for depression research, antidepressant screening, and stress-related investigations in pollinators.