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Psychiatric disorders

Homing in on the target of antidepressants

Nature Reviews Neuroscience volume 7, pages 504–505 (2006)Cite this article

...the cells targeted by fluoxetine to increase neurogenesis are amplifying neural progenitors...

Neurons are continuously generated in the dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus throughout life. In animal models, this activity increases in response to various types of antidepressant therapy, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine, and potentially contributes to their therapeutic effects. However, the precise stage of the multi-step process of neurogenesis at which SSRIs actually intervene is unknown. A clearer understanding of the progenitor cell type targeted by these drugs could enhance understanding of the pathogenesis of depression and the development of improved antidepressants.

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References

ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Encinas, J. M. et al. Fluoxetine targets early progenitor cells in the adult brain. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 103, 8233–8238 (2006)

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FURTHER READING

  1. Duman, R. S. et al. Regulation of adult neurogenesis by antidepressant treatment. Neuropsychopharmacology 25, 836–844 (2001)

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  2. Santarelli, L. et al. Requirement of hippocampal neurogenesis for the behavioural effects of antidepressants. Science 301, 805–809 (2003)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Associate Editor, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery,

    Katherine Whalley

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  1. Katherine Whalley
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Whalley, K. Homing in on the target of antidepressants. Nat Rev Neurosci 7, 504–505 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn1966

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn1966

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