光遗传学技术在抑郁症神经环路研究中的应用与进展

Application and progress of optogenetic technique in neural circuits in depression

光遗传学技术是一种结合了光学和遗传学的细胞活性调控技术,目前在神经科学中应用广泛。该技术可以特异性地调控抑郁动物模型的相关脑区及神经环路,减缓或加重实验动物的抑郁样行为。光遗传学技术联合神经免疫检测、行为学检测及脑成像技术等其他技术,可为阐明抑郁症的发病机制、研发新的抗抑郁药及诊疗手段提供技术支持。本文主要简述光遗传学技术在腹侧被盖区、伏隔核、前额叶皮质、海马、中缝背核等几个与抑郁症发生密切相关的脑区中的应用,以期为光遗传学技术在抑郁症神经环路中的研究提供思路和方向。

Optogenetic technique is a cellular activity regulation technology that combines optics and genetics,which can specifically regulate the relevant brain regions and neural circuits in depressive animal models,thereby slowing down or aggravating depression-like behaviors in experimental animals.Optogenetic technique combined with neuroimmunoassay,behavioral detection and brain imaging techniques can provide technical support for elucidating the pathogenesis of depression,developing new antidepressants and diagnosis and treatment methods.In this paper,the application of optogenetic technique in the ventral tegmental area,nucleus accumbens,prefrontal cortex,hippocampus,dorsal raphe nucleus and other brain regions closely related to depression is reviewed to provide ideas and directions for study of neural circuits of depression.