精氨酸加压素与抑郁症的研究进展

Advances in Arginine Vasopressin and Depression

抑郁症是目前最为常见的情感性精神障碍,以情绪及应激的行为反应失调为主要特征。迄今为止,抑郁症的病因及发病机制不明,但相关的神经生化假说很多。精氨酸加压素(Arginine vasopressin,AVP)作为一种神经肽,因其在抑郁症中改变明显而越来越受关注。加压素系统包括丘脑大细胞性神经元、丘脑视上核和室旁核小细胞性神经元、视交叉上核(Suprachiasmatic nucleus,SCN)及下丘脑外边缘脑区。AVP在大脑区域分布不同,对大脑功能的调节机制也不一样。本文从加压素系统及血浆AVP在抑郁症中的研究进展、AVP受体拮抗剂在抗抑郁治疗方面的研究现状进行综述。

Depression is the most common affective disorder at present, characterized by imbalance of behavioral responses to emotion and stress. The etiology and pathogenesis of depression haven＇t been known, but there are numerous relevant neurochemical hypotheses. As a neuropeptide, AVP accepts more and more attention because of its significant changes in depression. Vasopressin system includes the large magnocellular neurons of hypothalamus, the small parvocellular neurons in supraoptic nucleus and paraventricular nucleus, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, and the limbic area out of the hypothalamus. While AVP distributing in different brain regions, its regulatory mechanisms on brain functions are distinctive. This paper reviewed the vasopressin system, advanced research between central as well as plasma AVP and depression, the status of AVP receptor antagonist in antidepressant treatment etc.