Downregulation of Ccnd1 and Hes6 in rat hippocampus after chronic exposure to the antidepressant paroxetine.

Objective: The mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs is not fully understood. Application of genomic methods enables the identification of biochemical pathways that are regulated by antidepressants, and this may provide novel clues to the molecular and cellular actions of these drugs. The present study examined gene expression profiles in the hippocampus of rats exposed to chronic antidepressant treatment.

Proteomic analysis of embryonic stem cell-derived neural cells exposed to the antidepressant paroxetine.

Antidepressant drugs can have significant effects on the mood of a patient suffering from major depression or other disorders. The pharmacological actions of these drugs generally affect the uptake or metabolism of the neurotransmitters serotonin, noradrenalin, and, to a lesser extent, dopamine. However, many aspects of antidepressant action are not understood.

Age-dependent antidepressant pharmacogenomics: polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter and G protein beta3 subunit as predictors of response to fluoxetine and nortriptyline.

In 169 depressed patients randomized to treatment with either fluoxetine or nortriptyline, we examined whether polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter and the G protein beta3 subunit influenced response to these antidepressants. For depressed patients under the age of 25 yr the T allele of the G protein beta3 subunit was associated with a markedly poorer response to nortriptyline, while serotonin transporter polymorphisms did not predict antidepressant response. However, in patients 25 yr or older, the G protein beta3 polymorphisms did not predict antidepressant response, while the s,s genotype of the serotonin transporter was associated with a poorer response to both fluoxetine and nortriptyline.

Polymorphisms of DRD4 and DRD3 and risk of avoidant and obsessive personality traits and disorders.

We investigated whether polymorphisms of the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) and polymorphisms of the dopamine D3 receptor (DRD3) were associated with personality disorder symptomatology rather than with personality traits such as novelty seeking. DNA was obtained from 145 depressed patients in a clinical trial. These patients were assessed for the presence of personality disorder symptoms and disorders.