Researchers dissociate SERT and nNOS to treat depression and combat the side effects of commonly used antidepressants
Nanjing University, China’s team of researchers has made a new antidepressant drug. The drug elicits an antidepressant effect on mice. The paper was published in the Journal of Science where the group described their approach towards the treatment of depression.
One of the most common types of mental illness is chronic depression. Moreover, it has been very difficult for medical scientists to find a cure for it.
Many of the drugs used in the treatment of the condition are serotonin reuptake inhibitors. They reduce depression by targeting serotonin transporters and are called SERT drugs. The mechanism of action of these drugs is increasing the level of serotonin in the brain. However, the drawback of these drugs is that they can take weeks to be effective. Additionally, they also have multiple fatal side effects. For example, increasing the risk of suicide.
Dissociation of SERT and nNOS
The researchers took a new approach in their effort to dissociate SERT and nNOS (neuronal nitric oxide), which is an enzyme. Furthermore, despite their step to do so, they were curious about the result of dissociating serotonin for nNOS in the mouse brain. They assumed that it could reduce the serotonin in the dorsal raphe nucleus (one part of the brain) and increase it in the medial prefrontal cortex (other part of the brain). According to their result theory, the symptoms should improve rapidly.
The researchers developed a compound named ZZl-7 to find out. When they injected it into the mice, the firing of serotonin-producing neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus was modified. Additionally, it caused a disruption in the interactions between serotonin transporters and nNOS. It led to an increase in the amount of serotonin in the medial prefrontal cortex. Researchers suggest that this will cause a reduction in depression symptoms in humans.
Furthermore, they also noted that since there is an increase in serotonin levels in the prefrontal cortex during brain fog, the effects of the compound will be felt within hours.
They also suggest that the dissociation of SERT and nNos to combat depression can prevent the side effects of common therapies.
