| Budget Amount *help |
¥17,940,000 (Direct Cost: ¥13,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥4,140,000)
Fiscal Year 2018: ¥5,590,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,290,000)
Fiscal Year 2017: ¥5,850,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,350,000)
Fiscal Year 2016: ¥6,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,500,000)
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Major depression is a social and economic burden worldwide. Serotonergic signaling has been implicated in the pathophysiology of this disorder. Moreover, clinical studies have indicated that ketamine has a potent antidepressive efficacy. However, the precise mechanisms underlying major depression are still unclear. Here, we used viral vectors capable of efficient and specific transduction of serotonergic neurons in mice and rats for elucidation of serotonergic roles in depression-like behaviors. We found that ketamine activated dorsal raphe serotonin neurons via activation of acetylcholine neurons in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus. We also found that acute activation of serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus increases anti-depressive like behaviors in rats and mice. These findings further our understanding of the pathophysiological role of dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons in different species and the role of these neurons as therapeutic targets in major depression.
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