A silver bullet for the treatment of depression?

Neuron. 2007 Sep 6;55(5):679-81. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2007.08.011.

Abstract

The search for a rapid-acting antidepressant has been a subject of intense research interest for several decades. The article by Lucas and colleagues in this issue of Neuron provides compelling evidence from preclinical animal models that drugs acting at the serotonin 5-HT(4) receptor could finally achieve this goal. However, caution is warranted, as results from animal studies are not always predictive of therapeutic actions in humans.

Publication types

  • Comment
  • News

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antidepressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Antidepressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / drug effects
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Depressive Disorder / metabolism
  • Depressive Disorder / physiopathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4 / drug effects*
  • Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4 / metabolism
  • Serotonin / metabolism*
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / adverse effects
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / pharmacology*
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists
  • Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4
  • Serotonin