Requirement of hippocampal neurogenesis for the behavioral effects of antidepressants

L Santarelli, M Saxe, C Gross, A Surget, F Battaglia… - science, 2003 - science.org
L Santarelli, M Saxe, C Gross, A Surget, F Battaglia, S Dulawa, N Weisstaub, J Lee
science, 2003science.org
Various chronic antidepressant treatments increase adult hippocampal neurogenesis, but
the functional importance of this phenomenon remains unclear. Here, using genetic and
radiological methods, we show that disrupting antidepressant-induced neurogenesis blocks
behavioral responses to antidepressants. Serotonin 1A receptor null mice were insensitive
to the neurogenic and behavioral effects of fluoxetine, a serotonin selective reuptake
inhibitor. X-irradiation of a restricted region of mouse brain containing the hippocampus …
Various chronic antidepressant treatments increase adult hippocampal neurogenesis, but the functional importance of this phenomenon remains unclear. Here, using genetic and radiological methods, we show that disrupting antidepressant-induced neurogenesis blocks behavioral responses to antidepressants. Serotonin 1A receptor null mice were insensitive to the neurogenic and behavioral effects of fluoxetine, a serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor. X-irradiation of a restricted region of mouse brain containing the hippocampus prevented the neurogenic and behavioral effects of two classes of antidepressants. These findings suggest that the behavioral effects of chronic antidepressants may be mediated by the stimulation of neurogenesis in the hippocampus.
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