Scientists have opened the door for a new class of fast-onset antidepressants. According to a recent study, a new small-molecule compound that regulates the firing of serotonergic neurons has a fast-acting antidepressant effect. The results pave the way for the development of a new class of treatme
Presently available antidepressant drugs have unpleasant side effects, addictive properties, or can induce schizophrenia. Developing fast-onset antidepressants without these drawbacks is thus an important neuropharmacological goal.According to a recent study, a new small-molecule compound that regulates the firing of serotonergic neurons has a fast-acting antidepressant effect.
The majority of today’s antidepressants target the serotonin transporter . These drugs, however, are limited. SERT-targeted antidepressants not only take up to 4 weeks to take effect, but they may also have serious side effects, including suicide, and only a percentage of individuals who take them recover from depression following treatment. While ketamine has been considered as an alternative, its potentially addictive properties as well as the danger of schizophrenia have aroused concerns.
As a result, there is a need for new, fast-acting antidepressant targets and compounds without these serious drawbacks. Here, Nan Sun and colleagues present one such solution. Sun and his team designed a fast-onset antidepressant that works by disrupting the interaction between SERT and neuronal nitric oxide synthase .
The authors found that disassociating SERT from nNOS in the brains of mice reduced intercellular serotonin in a brain region called the dorsal raphe nucleus. This enhanced serotonergic neuron activity in this area and dramatically increased serotonin release into the medial prefrontal cortex. According to the findings, this resulted in a fast-acting antidepressant effect in a mouse model of MDD.
Reference: “Design of fast-onset antidepressant by dissociating SERT from nNOS in the DRN” by Nan Sun, Ya-Juan Qin, Chu Xu, Tian Xia, Zi-Wei Du, Li-Ping Zheng, An-an Li, Fan Meng, Yu Zhang, Jing Zhang, Xiao Liu, Ting-You Li, Dong-Ya Zhu and Qi-Gang Zhou, 27 October 2022,
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Resurrecting Billon-Year-Old Enzymes – Scientists Reveal New Key Information About PhotosynthesisBack to the future of photosynthesis. Rubisco, the central biocatalyst in photosynthesis, is the most prevalent enzyme on the planet. A group of Max Planck Institute researchers has uncovered one of the key early photosynthesis adaptations by reconstructing billion-year-old enzymes. Their findings
Read more »
Scientists discovered a new molecule that kills even the deadliest cancerA team from UT Dallas has discovered a molecule that destroys adamant cancer cells. Experiments on mice and human tissue found that the compound was effective even in the most aggressive tumors, offering hope.
Read more »
Scientists observe 2 new lava flows on Mauna Loa, the world's largest active volcanoNEW YORK — Scientists have observed two new lava flows out of the Mauna Loa volcano on Hawaii's Big Island -- the largest active volcano in the world.
Read more »
These never-before-dated Neanderthal footprints could be nearly 300,000 years oldThe new dating placed the footprints in a new geographical and environmental context.
Read more »
Report: Wide racial disparity in New York prison discipline - New York Amsterdam NewsBlack and Hispanic people incarcerated in New York state prisons are more likely than white people to face further punishment once they wind up behind bars, according to a state inspector general report released Thursday.
Read more »