Armas CG, Pezoa JRE, Vásquez MJA

Language: Spanish
References: 13
Page: 19-21
PDF size: 93.35 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a psychiatric illness with a lifetime prevalence of 10-25% in women, and 5-12% in men. Neurotrophins are required for neurogenesis, maintenance of neuronal function, and for neural structure integrity. Being so, Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is a promising molecule for study, since it is associated with neuronal structural changes on animal models of depression, and it is a potential target for antidepressants. It has been found that BDNF serum levels are decreased in patients with MDD, as compared with healthy controls, and its levels increase after treatment with antidepressives. Evidence from several studies indicate that exogenous administration of BDNF increases synaptic force, as well as branching of cortical and hippocampal neurons.

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