The mechanism(s) of the antidepressant activity of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) have not yet been elucidated. SAMe is essential for the synthesis of polyamines, which have a key role in protein synthesis, cell proliferation, and neuronal plasticity. On the other hand, accumulating data indicate that depression is associated with a reduction in regional brain volume and that antidepressants increase neurogenesis in defined brain regions and also influence neuronal plasticity. Here we show that in a validated rat model of depression (chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced anhedonia) there is a significant reduction of putrescine, spermidine and spermine in the hippocampus, and of only putrescine in the nucleus accumbens septi. SAMe, at a fully antidepressant dose (300 mg/kg i.m., daily for 7 days), completely restores the levels of putrescine in the nucleus accumbens, and restores in part the levels of both spermidine and spermine in the hippocampus. These results may suggest (i) a role for brain polyamines in depression and in reward processes, and (ii) that the antidepressant effect of SAMe may be due, at least in part, to a normalization of putrescine levels in the nucleus accumbens septi.

Influence of SAMe on the modifications of brain poliamine levels in an animal model of depression / Genedani, Susanna; Saltini, S; Benelli, A; Filaferro, M; Bertolini, A.. - In: NEUROREPORT. - ISSN 0959-4965. - STAMPA. - 12:18(2001), pp. 3939-3942. [10.1097/00001756-200112210-00017]

Influence of SAMe on the modifications of brain poliamine levels in an animal model of depression

GENEDANI, Susanna;
2001

Abstract

The mechanism(s) of the antidepressant activity of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) have not yet been elucidated. SAMe is essential for the synthesis of polyamines, which have a key role in protein synthesis, cell proliferation, and neuronal plasticity. On the other hand, accumulating data indicate that depression is associated with a reduction in regional brain volume and that antidepressants increase neurogenesis in defined brain regions and also influence neuronal plasticity. Here we show that in a validated rat model of depression (chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced anhedonia) there is a significant reduction of putrescine, spermidine and spermine in the hippocampus, and of only putrescine in the nucleus accumbens septi. SAMe, at a fully antidepressant dose (300 mg/kg i.m., daily for 7 days), completely restores the levels of putrescine in the nucleus accumbens, and restores in part the levels of both spermidine and spermine in the hippocampus. These results may suggest (i) a role for brain polyamines in depression and in reward processes, and (ii) that the antidepressant effect of SAMe may be due, at least in part, to a normalization of putrescine levels in the nucleus accumbens septi.
2001
12
18
3939
3942
Influence of SAMe on the modifications of brain poliamine levels in an animal model of depression / Genedani, Susanna; Saltini, S; Benelli, A; Filaferro, M; Bertolini, A.. - In: NEUROREPORT. - ISSN 0959-4965. - STAMPA. - 12:18(2001), pp. 3939-3942. [10.1097/00001756-200112210-00017]
Genedani, Susanna; Saltini, S; Benelli, A; Filaferro, M; Bertolini, A.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/453140
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