Depression can considerably affect brain health and studies have shown that several connections in the brain are reduced in people suffering from depression. These reductions impair functional connections between vital centers in the brain involved in mood regulation.
Glial cells, which support the growth and function of nerve cells and their connections, seem to be particularly reduced when examining post-mortem brain tissue from individuals who had suffered from depression.
In recent years, researchers have found that antidepressants have a positive impact on brain structure that complement their effects on symptoms of depression. These effects seem to largely depend on their ability to increase the levels of growth factors in the brain.
In this study, researchers at Yale University School of Medicine discovered that a growth factor named fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) can enhance the number of glial cells and prevent the reduction triggered by chronic stress by influencing the production of new glial cells.
Dr. Ronald Duman, explained:
“Our study uncovers a new pathway that can be targeted for treating depression. Our research shows that we can increase the production and maintenance of glial cells that are important for supporting neurons, providing an enriched environment for proper neuronal function.”
The team used rodent models that where subjected to various natural stressors in order to determine if FGF2 can treat depression. The team discovered that FGF2 infusions restored the deficit in glial cell number caused by chronic stress. In addition, the team found that antidepressants boosted glial generation and function by increasing FGF2 signaling.
Duman, said:
“Although more research is warranted to explore the contribution of glial cells to the antidepressant effects of FGF2, the results of this study present a fundamental new mechanism that merits attention in the quest to find more efficacious and faster-acting antidepressant drugs.”
Dr. John Krystal, Editor of Biological Psychiatry and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine, explained: “The deeper that science digs into the biology underlying antidepressant action, the more complex it becomes. Yet understanding this complexity increases the power of the science, suggesting reasons for the limitations of antidepressant treatment and pointing to novel approaches to the treatment of depression.”
Written by Grace Rattue