title: The neurobiology of depression--revisiting the serotonin hypothesis. II. Genetic, epigenetic and clinical studies.
abstract: The serotonin system originates from a small number of neurons (a few hundred thousand of the 100 billion in man) located in the midbrain raphe nuclei, that project widely throughout the central nervous system to influence a large array of inter-related biological functions, not least of which are circuits involved in mood and emotion. The serotonin hypothesis of depression has postulated that a reduction in serotonin leads to increased predisposition to depression. Indeed, it has become evident from therapeutic strategies that affect serotonin activity, that alterations in serotonin may not only predispose to depression, but also to aggressive behaviour, impulsivity, obsessive-compulsive behaviour and suicide. Many potential mechanisms known to alter the genes that regulate the serotonin system, including developmental epigenetic modifications, are presented, as additional evidence implicating the serotonin system. This second issue of two special issues of Philosophical Transactions B presents a series of reviews, perspectives and new findings that argue that the serotonin hypothesis remains an important idea that continues to guide research into the aetiology and treatment of depression.
authors: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (Neuroscience), University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. palbert@uottawa.ca
authors: Paul R
authors: PR
authors: Albert
authors: Chawki
authors: C
authors: Benkelfat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D059906:Neuroimaging; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D012701:Serotonin