Home \|\| About KDR \|\| Weekly Feature Archive
Scientists closer to understanding how Prozac works CBC News \|\| May 25, 2006 Related - Antipsychotic drug use among kids soars Related - Antidepressant linked to suicide risk in adults Scientists have discovered the main brain cells targeted by the antidepressant Prozac in a mouse model, a finding they say has the potential to produce better treatments for depression. Prozac, also called fluoxetine, likely relieves symptoms of depression by stimulating the growth of new neurons in the brain's hippocampus, but scientists didn't know which neurons were affected. Now, Grigori Enikolopov and his team from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York have narrowed down which cells are targeted by the drug. The researchers engineered nerve cells in mice to glow green during the growth process, which made it easier for them to be counted. The team was then able to determine which step in the nerve growth process is affected by Prozac. Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com The study appears in this week's online issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Next, the researchers plan to test the effects of Prozac on the growth of neurons in young and pregnant mice. The research could help clear up the controversy surrounding the risks of Prozac in teens and pregnant women. They are also using the new tool to explore whether other treatments for depression such as deep brain stimulation act in a similar way to Prozac. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
In Depth What Is Wrong With Canada Recent 9-11 News Suppressed by the Media Aspartame: The Sweetest Killer The Number 1 Reason YOU became a Slave Knowledge Driven Look at Your Favourite Canadian Political Parties
Archive March April May 2006 30 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 01 02 03 Weekly Features 2006 2005

Home || About KDR || Weekly Feature Archive

Scientists closer to understanding how Prozac works

CBC News || May 25, 2006

Related - Antipsychotic drug use among kids soars

Related - Antidepressant linked to suicide risk in adults

Scientists have discovered the main brain cells targeted by the antidepressant Prozac in a mouse model, a finding they say has the potential to produce better treatments for depression.

Prozac, also called fluoxetine, likely relieves symptoms of depression by stimulating the growth of new neurons in the brain's hippocampus, but scientists didn't know which neurons were affected.

Now, Grigori Enikolopov and his team from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York have narrowed down which cells are targeted by the drug.

The researchers engineered nerve cells in mice to glow green during the growth process, which made it easier for them to be counted.

The team was then able to determine which step in the nerve growth process is affected by Prozac.

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

The study appears in this week's online issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Next, the researchers plan to test the effects of Prozac on the growth of neurons in young and pregnant mice.

The research could help clear up the controversy surrounding the risks of Prozac in teens and pregnant women.

They are also using the new tool to explore whether other treatments for depression such as deep brain stimulation act in a similar way to Prozac.

Maple Leaf Footer
About KDR | | Home | | Weekly Features Archive