Abstract
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been widely used to treat different neurological disorders, especially epilepsy. Accumulating evidence also suggests its potential application in antidepressive therapy, given that VNS has been confirmed by several clinical trials to exert long-term effects on mitigating depression and reducing the risk of relapse in depressed patients. Likewise, VNS has also proven to ameliorate the behavioral deficits in a rat model of depression. While the influences of VNS on monoamine metabolism and mood improvement are well-recognized, the underlying mechanisms mediating its antidepressive action remain poorly understood. Recent findings suggest that VNS-enhanced proliferation of hippocampal neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and synaptic transmission might serve as a monoamine-independent pathway contributive to the beneficial effects of VNS on depression. Here we briefly reviewed the recent progress in this field, based on which we propose that there might be, at least, two little-overlapped, and yet interactive pathways mediating the antidepressive action of VNS.
Keywords: Vagus nerve stimulation, depression, neurogenesis, hippocampus, monoamine, brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
Current Molecular Medicine
Title:Vagus nerve stimulation in treating depression: A tale of two stories.
Volume: 16 Issue: 1
Author(s): T.-F. Yuan, A. Li, X. Sun, O. Arias-Carrión and S. Machado
Affiliation:
Keywords: Vagus nerve stimulation, depression, neurogenesis, hippocampus, monoamine, brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
Abstract: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been widely used to treat different neurological disorders, especially epilepsy. Accumulating evidence also suggests its potential application in antidepressive therapy, given that VNS has been confirmed by several clinical trials to exert long-term effects on mitigating depression and reducing the risk of relapse in depressed patients. Likewise, VNS has also proven to ameliorate the behavioral deficits in a rat model of depression. While the influences of VNS on monoamine metabolism and mood improvement are well-recognized, the underlying mechanisms mediating its antidepressive action remain poorly understood. Recent findings suggest that VNS-enhanced proliferation of hippocampal neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and synaptic transmission might serve as a monoamine-independent pathway contributive to the beneficial effects of VNS on depression. Here we briefly reviewed the recent progress in this field, based on which we propose that there might be, at least, two little-overlapped, and yet interactive pathways mediating the antidepressive action of VNS.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Yuan T.-F., Li A., Sun X., Arias-Carrión O. and Machado S., Vagus nerve stimulation in treating depression: A tale of two stories., Current Molecular Medicine 2016; 16 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566524016666151222143609
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566524016666151222143609 |
Print ISSN 1566-5240 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5666 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Quantitative Molecular Imaging of Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in the Human Brain with A-85380 Radiotracers
Current Medical Imaging Genetics and Mitochondrial Abnormalities in Autism Spectrum Disorders:A Review
Current Genomics Tandem Mass Spectrometry Newborn Screening for Inborn Errors of Intermediary Metabolism: Abnormal Profile Interpretation
Current Medicinal Chemistry Using Literature-based Discovery to Identify Novel Therapeutic Approaches
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Glia: An Important Target for Anti-Inflammatory and Antidepressant Activity
Current Drug Targets Structure-Affinity-Relationship Study of Bicyclic σ Receptor Ligands
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Neurotransmitter Effects in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Simian Immuno-Deficiency Virus (SIV) Infection
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Nose-to-Brain Drug Delivery by Nanoparticles in the Treatment of Neurological Disorders
Current Medicinal Chemistry QSAR Modeling of Histamine H3R Antagonists/inverse Agonists as Future Drugs for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Current Neuropharmacology A Convenient, Solvent Free and High Yielding Synthesis of Bicyclo- Heterocyclic Compounds
Letters in Organic Chemistry Importance of ABC Transporters in Drug Development
Current Pharmaceutical Design Side Effects of Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs
Current Pharmaceutical Design Editorial [Hot Topic: Modulation, Absorption and Delivery of Xenobiotics: The Synergic Role of CYP450 and P-gp Activities (Guest Editor: Nicola Antonio Colabufo)]
Current Drug Metabolism Valproic acid, A Potential Inducer of Osteogenesis in Mouse Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Current Molecular Pharmacology Genetic Variation of Chromosome 1q42: Etiologic Mechanism of Congenital Disorders of Neuronal Migration and Synaptogenesis
Current Psychiatry Reviews Old and New Antiepileptic Drugs for the Treatment of Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsies
Current Clinical Pharmacology Utilizing Delta Opioid Receptors and Peptides for Cytoprotection: Implications in Stroke and Other Neurological Disorders
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Consensus Guideline Based Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) in Psychiatry and Neurology
Current Drug Delivery Minimizing AED Adverse Effects: Improving Quality of Life in the Interictal State in Epilepsy Care
Current Neuropharmacology Blockers of Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels for the Treatment of Central Nervous System Diseases
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued)