Protein Links to Stress and Depression
Written by WTJ on March 1, 2009 – 10:47 am -
Recent studies showed that a protein called kainate receptors response to certain antidepressants, and the protein also involved in depression and suicidal thought.
Scientists at Rockefeller University examined one of the five subunits of kainate receptors, KA1 in rats and the result may help to explain the mechanism of the protein reshaping the brain in response to stress. Researchers at Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology at Rockefeller University studied the impact of stress and steroid on rats. They induce stress to the rats by restraining them 6 hours per day for over three weeks. The production of KA1 in these rats increased in certain parts of hippocampus under the instruction sent by messenger RNA. Hippocampus involved in learning and memory functions. Scientists also tried to inject hormone called corticosteroids into the unstressed rats. Low dose of corticosteroids increased KA1 production but high dose did not.
Fortunately the brains will replace the retracted neurons once the stress is removed. The study was published in the journal PLos ONE. The authors were Richard G. Hunter, Rudy Bellani, Erik Bloss, Ana Costa, Katharine McCarthy, and Bruce S. McEwen.
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Tags: adaptive plasticity, Ana Costa, Bruce S. McEwen, corticosteroid, depression, Erik Bloss, Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, hippocampal kainate receptor, hippocampus, HPA, KA1, kainate receptor, Katharine McCarthy, mental health, PLoS ONE, psychology, Richard G. Hunter, richard hunter, Rockefeller University, Rudy Bellani, Steroid, stress | 1 Comment »
July 6th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
good work thanks