title: Regulation of cellular plasticity cascades in the pathophysiology and treatment of mood disorders: role of the glutamatergic system.
abstract: There is increasing evidence from a variety of sources that mood disorders are associated with regional reductions in brain volume, as well as reductions in the number, size, and density of glia and neurons in discrete brain areas. Although the precise pathophysiology underlying these morphometric changes remains to be fully elucidated, the data suggest that severe mood disorders are associated with impairments of structural plasticity and cellular resilience. In this context, it is noteworthy that a growing body of data suggests that the glutamatergic system--which is known to play a major role in neuronal plasticity and cellular resilience--may be involved in the pathophysiology and treatment of mood disorders. Preclinical studies have shown that the glutamatergic system represents targets (often indirect) for the actions of antidepressants and mood stabilizers. There are a number of glutamatergic "plasticity enhancing" strategies that may be of considerable utility in the treatment of mood disorders. Among the most immediate ones are NMDA antagonists, inhibitors of glutamate-release agents, and AMPA potentiators; this research progress holds much promise for the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of severe, refractory mood disorders.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Pathophysiology, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. zaratec@intra.nimh.nih.gov
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Zarate
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quiroz
authors.forename: Neil A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Kirk D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Denicoff
authors.forename: Jaskaran
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Dennis S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Charney
authors.forename: Husseini K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Manji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000502:physiology; D005971:Glutamates / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D005971:Glutamates; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D014635:Valproic Acid; D008094:Lithium