Journal
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
Volume 227, Issue 2, Pages 440-449Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.04.022
Keywords
Depression; Neurogenesis; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Antidepressants; Neurotrophic factors; Stress
Categories
Funding
- USPHS [MH45481, 2 P01 MH25642]
- Connecticut Mental Health Center
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada
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It is now well established that the adult brain has the capacity to generate new neurons throughout life. Although the functional significance of adult neurogenesis still remains to be established, increasing evidence has implicated compromised hippocampal neurogenesis as a possible contributor in the development of major depressive disorder. Antidepressants increase hippocampal neurogenesis and there is evidence in rodent models that the therapeutic efficacy of these agents is attributable, in part, to this neurogenic effect. As such, considerable interest has been directed at identifying molecular signals, including neurotrophic factors and related signaling pathways that are associated with antidepressant action and could operate as key modulators in the regulation of neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus. One interesting candidate is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is known to possess strong neurogenic effects. In this review, we will discuss the involvement of VEGF signaling in the etiology and treatment of depression. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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