A P2X7 receptor antagonist reverses behavioural alterations, microglial activation and neuroendocrine dysregulation in an unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) model of depression in mice

Depression is a major public health challenge that has been the focus of intense research in the past. In 2010, in the Global Burden of Disease study, depressive disorders were found to be the 2nd leading cause of years lived with disability, and depression will rise to become the leading cause of disability by 2030 worldwide (Mathers and Loncar, 2006). The pathophysiology of depression is explained mainly on the basis of alterations in neuroplasticity and metabolism of monoamines. Though these theories have been translated into pharmacotherapy, 100% remission rates have still not been achieved (Santarelli et al., 2003).

Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - July 9, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Rai Khalid Farooq, Arnaud Tanti, Samia Ainouche, S ébastien Roger, Catherine Belzung, Vincent Camus Source Type: research