多巴胺的负调控中枢——缰核在抑郁症中的作用

Role of Habenula in depression

腹侧被盖区(VTA)在大脑奖赏环路中起到核心调控作用。抑郁症中VTA的多巴胺能神经元电活动发生异常改变。近年来的研究发现,来自缰核的输入能够负调控VTA多巴胺神经元的电活动。在抑郁动物模型中,由于βCaMKII表达水平异常增加所引起的被过度活化的外侧缰核神经元,可以通过降低包括多巴胺在内的单胺水平,最终导致多种核心抑郁表型的产生。

The ventral tegmental area （VTA） is a core brain region in the brain＇s reward system. The abnormal activity of dopaminergic neurons in the VTA correlates with the depressive symptoms. Recent studies revealed that the habenula provides negative inputs into the VTA dopaminergic neurons. In depression animal models, increased level of βCaMKII will lead to hyperactivity of lateral habenular neurons, causing reduced dopamine level and core symptoms of depression.