Mood disorders hippocampus

Fatemi SH, Earle JA, Stary JM, Lee S, Sedgewick J. 2001. Altered levels of the synaptosomal associated protein SNAP-25 in hippocampus of subjects with mood disorders and schizophrenia. Neuroreport 12 3257-3262. 

Toro C, Deakin JF. 2005. NMDA receptor subunit NRI and postsynaptic protein PSD-95 in hippocampus and orbito-frontal cortex in schizophrenia and mood disorder. Schi-zophr Res 80 323-330. 

Mitani H, Shirayama Y, Yamada T, Maeda K, Ashby CR, Kawa-hara R. Correlation between plasma levels of glutamate, alanine, and serine with severity of depression. Progr. Neuro-Psycho-pharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry 2006 30 1155-1158. Martinez-Turrillas R, Erechilla D, Del Rio J. Chronic antidepressant treatment increases the membrane expression of AMPA receptors in rat hippocampus. Neuropharmacology 2002 43 1230-1237. Petty E. GABA and mood disorders a brief review and hypothesis. J. Affec. Disorders 1995 34 275-281. 

H NMR spectroscopic imaging has been used to examine metabolite levels in the brains of 17 patients with first episode mood disorders with psychotic symptoms. Measurements of NAA, Cho and tCr were made in the hippocampus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, superior temporal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, occipital cortex, anterior and posterior cingulate, centrum semiovale, prefrontal white matter, thalamus and putamen. The ratio of NAA/Cho was significantly lower in patients compared to controls. Intracellular metabolites have been measured with NMR in 8 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Increased Glx in both frontal areas, and increased NAA and Cho in the right frontal area were measured in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder subjects. 

In depressed patients, cortical-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity can be explained by the hypersecretion of CRF, and secondary pituitary and adrenal gland hypertrophy. Impaired negative feedback at various CNS sites, including the hippocampus and pituitary are also likely to contribute. Downregulation of hippocampal mineralocorticoid receptors and expression is reported in depressed suicides [50]. In bipolar disorder, hyperactivity of the cortical-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis has been observed [51]. This increase in cortical-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity has also been observed in mixed mood states, mania and in depression in rapidcycling patients. Partial reversal of HPA overactivity is associated with treatment and recovery from depression. 

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