Biol/Psyc 105, Class 22

November 17th, 2014

Critical questions
1. How is serotonin involved in depression?
2. Describe animal models for depression.
3. What are some additional depression-associated
disease?
4. Describe alternative hypothesis to the serotonin
model of depression.

NH2
HO

N
H
5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)
Serotonin

Which of the following may not be

true about depression:
A.

There is a genetic
component
B. There are cognitive
components
C. It is linked to altered sleep
regulation
D. It may be regulated by
neurodevelopment

E. It may be a
disorder of
neural circuitry

SSRI: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Many serotonin sites are drug targets

Antidepressants

Street Drugs

MAOIs
Neurotransmitter
breakdown

Ecstasy
Enhances
Serotonin release

Tricyclics
Inhibit reuptake
of serotonin &
norepinephrine

LSD, Mescalin
Psilocybin
Mimic effect
Of serotonin

SSRIs
Inhibit reuptake
of serotonin
Serotonin modulates a very wide range of functions
In CNS and PNS

Serotonin in the central nervous system

Serotonin in the periphery

and development!!

The hippocampus, amygdala and prefrontal

cortex are all implicated in depression

How do alterations in serotonin levels

and signaling affect the system as a
whole?

Distribution of 5HT release sites is

important
Serotonin release site

Healthy brain tissue

Distribution of 5HT release sites is

important
Serotonin release site

Healthy brain tissue

Diseased, post-suicide

Manipulating serotonin levels

Acute: drug incubations
Chronic: drug feeding, genetics
NH2
HO

N
H

Deep brain stimulation as a treatment for depression

Depression can be linked to the time of year:

What could cause this?

Bipolar Disorder is characterized by manic AND depressive states

Many very productive people have been linked to

bipolar disorder*

Russell Brand

Edvard Munch

Edgar Allen Poe

* According to Wikipedia

Implications for development and

beyond

Learned helplessness provides animal model of

depression

Idea: Depression is caused by people feeling like

they do not ve control over their situation.
Chronic defeat in animals models this.

Hypothesis: Serotonin directly modulates mood and

therefore SSRIs treat depression
Problem: SSRIs takes weeks to work following initial
administration, while synaptic serotonin increases
immediately.

Is modeling depression in animals

as difficult as other complex
cognitive disorders? (opinion)
A. Yes
B. No

V=Vehicle
F= Fluoxitine (SSRI

BRDU: Marker of new cells

NeuN=neuron marker
GFAP=Glial Marker

Pharmaceutical companies are working to develop new

classes of depression drugs that stimulate stem cells

10% of US Medical
Expenditures

Questions?
Why are our brains hard wired to overeat?
What are leptin and Ghrelin and how do they regulate our feeding?
How does the circadian clock contribute to obesity?
How does chronic dieting effect the brain?
What are the different approaches discussed to address this problem?