Effects And Possible Mechanisms Of Estrogen On Behavior Of Depressed Rats Induced By CUMS

The incidence of depression is gradually increasing year by year now with the increasing pressures of the social competition and the tension of life rhythm. Depression is characteristic of higher incidence, relapse and suicide, and lower cure rate, and it has brought a lot of troubles to our society and it has been paid more attention to throughout the world. Until now, any progress has been not made in the research on etiology, mechanism and treatment of depression. The"monoamine hypothesis"suggests that it is related to the deficiencies of various monoamine neurotransmitters, such as 5-hydrotryptamine(5-HT), norepinephrine(NE) and dopamine(DA). Almost effective anti- depressants used in clinic increase concentrations of 5-HT and NE in the synaptic clefts, which has demonstrated the rationality of the"monoamine hypothesis". The reality of therapeutic effects of various selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitors has also verified it further.The present studies on it suggest that depression should be associated closely with the disturbance of the regeneration of the nerve. Any stresses may damage the balance between impairment and regeneration of neurons, and lead to granulocytopenia, atrophy and reduction of neurons, and then depression may occur. Therefore,How to promote the regenerative ability of impaired neurons to be restored to response to impairments of cerebral structures and functions has become one of aims in the treatment of depression. Anti-depressive treatment may promote the generation of hippocampus neurons and reverse or stop cerebral impairments through an up-regulation of neuronal regeneration.Some reports suggest that one of...