Molecular regulation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in the onset and treatment of depression

Major depression is a multidimensional disorder highly prevalent in modern society. Although several classes of antidepressants (ADs) are currently available to treat depression, the effectiveness of treatment is still limited, as many patients do not show full remission; thus, there is a need to find better patients directed therapeutic strategies. Neuroplastic changes in several brain regions, namely in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG), are amongst the best correlates of depression and of ADs actions. In this study the targets and molecular mediators of chronic stress and of four ADs from different pharmacological classes (fluoxetine, imipramine, tianeptine and agomelatine) were investigated in the DG.

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Patrício P, Mateus-Pinheiro A, Irmler M, Alves ND, Machado-Santos AR, Morais M, Correia JS, Korostynski M, Piechota M, Stoffel R, Beckers J, Bessa JM, Almeida OF, Sousa N, Pinto L