Antidepressants increase neural progenitor cells in the human hippocampus.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) increase neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) of rodents and nonhuman primates. We determined whether SSRIs or TCAs increase neural progenitor (NPCs) and dividing cells in the human DG in major depressive disorder (MDD). Whole frozen hippocampi from untreated subjects with MDD (N=5), antidepressant-treated MDD (MDDT, N=7), and controls (C, N=7) were fixed, sectioned, and immunostained for NPCs and dividing cell markers (nestin and Ki-67, respectively), NeuN and GFAP, in single and double labeling. NPC and dividing cell numbers in the DG were estimated by stereology. Clinical data were obtained by psychological autopsy, and by toxicological and neuropathological examination performed on all subjects. NPCs decreased with age (p = 0.034). Females had more NPCs than males (p = 0.023). Correcting for age and sex, MDDT receiving SSRIs had more NPCs than untreated MDD (p < or = 0.001) and controls (p < or = 0.001), NPCs were not different in SSRI- and TCA-treated MDDT (p = 0.169). Dividing cell number, unaffected by age or sex, was greater in MDDT receiving TCAs than in untreated MDD (p < or = 0.001), SSRI-treated MDD (p = 0.001), and controls (p < or = 0.001). The increase of NPCs and dividing cells in MDDT was localized to the rostral DG. MDDT had a larger DG volume compared with untreated MDD or controls (p = 0.009). Antidepressants increase NPC number in the anterior human DG. Whether this finding is critical or necessary for the antidepressants effect remains to be determined.
Boldrini
Maura
M
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, Box 42, New York, NY 10032, USA. mb928@columbia.edu
Underwood
Mark D
MD
Hen
René
R
Rosoklija
Gorazd B
GB
Dwork
Andrew J
AJ
John Mann
J
J
Arango
Victoria
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000375:Aging; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009929:Organ Size; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors