Progress in neural-plasticity mechanisms of faster-onset antidepressants / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

Basic and cIinicaI studies demonstrate that depression is associated with abnormaI neuraI pIasticity in some brain regions,incIuding the prefrontaI cortex and hippocampus. Brain-derived neurotro-phic factor(BDNF)and its signaIing pathways pIay a cruciaI roIe in reguIating neuraI pIasticity and deveI-opment of depression. Ketamine or scopoIamine can produce a quick and sustained antidepressant effect,and both can quictIy activate BDNF-signaIing pathways reIated to neuraI pIasticity. In order to pro-vide the theoreticaI basis for future researches on new antidepressants,the neuraI pIasticity mechanisms of faster-onset antidepressants are reviewed in this paper.