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[Recent progress in neurobiological mechanisms of depression.] [Article in Chinese]

GAO Yu-Bo, LI Liang-Ping, ZHU Xin-Hong, GAO Tian-Ming^*

Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China

Abstract

Revealing the neurobiological mechanism of depression has always been a big challenge in the field of neuroscience. Not only are depressive syndromes heterogeneous and their aetiologies diverse, but also some symptoms are impossible to reproduce in animal models. Nevertheless, great progress has been made on the understanding and treatment of depression in recent years. In this review, we focus on key leading hypotheses in the neurobiological mechanism of depression, examine their strengths and weaknesses critically, and also highlight new insights that promise to extend the understanding of depression and its treatment.

Key words: depression; neurotransmitter; neuroendocrine; neuroimmune; neurotrophin; neurogenesis; epigenetics

Received: 2012-02-09　　Accepted: 2012-05-07

Corresponding author: 高天明　　E-mail: tgao@fimmu.com

Citing This Article：

GAO Yu-Bo, LI Liang-Ping, ZHU Xin-Hong, GAO Tian-Ming. [Recent progress in neurobiological mechanisms of depression.] [Article in Chinese] . Acta Physiol Sin 2012; 64 (4): 475-480 (in Chinese with English abstract).