July 9, 2012

expert reaction to novel hormone-based treatment for depression (in mice)

Researchers reported in PNAS that a circulating metabolic hormone helps alleviate the symptoms of depression in mice.

Dr Clare Stanford, Reader in Experimental Psychopharmacology, University College London, said:

“This is an interesting paper. It is not at all certain that the behaviours tested in this paper are analogues of depression in humans. Nevertheless, the results do provide convincing evidence to link insulin secretion with the effects of antidepressants on behaviour.

“A link between insulin secretion and antidepression was first proposed several years ago but was not widely accepted at that time. This new evidence points the way to a completely new way of treating depression and could help explain why this disorder often associated with a sudden change in body weight.”

‘Adiponectin is critical in determining susceptibility to depressive behaviors and has antidepressant-like activity’ by Liu, J. et al., published in PNAS on Monday 9th July.