Source: HealthDay News
Posted: May 16, 2006
Summary:
Researchers say they've discovered how antidepressants such as Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft dispel depression is by stimulating the growth of new brain cells. The researchers decided toexamine how the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants -- the widely used class of drugs that includes Celexa, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft -- might spur brain cell growth. To do so, they tracked the way in which stem cells -- undifferentiated cells that can grow into specialized cells -- became neurons in a special mouse model given the antidepressant Prozac (fluoxetine). They believe that Prozac targets cells which are born from the stem cells, called amplifying progenitors, and increases their numbers. Within three to four weeks, they observed an increase in the number of mature neurons.
Commentary: Hopefully this discovery will enable the proliferation neural stem cells in order to treat central nervous system disorders, injuries and conditions.
No comments:
Post a Comment