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Brief Treatment With the Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Mifepristone Normalises the Corticosterone‐Induced Reduction of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis
Author(s) -
Mayer J. L.,
Klumpers L.,
Maslam S.,
De Kloet E. R.,
Joëls M.,
Lucassen P. J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of neuroendocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1365-2826
pISSN - 0953-8194
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2006.01455.x
Subject(s) - mifepristone , neurogenesis , corticosterone , glucocorticoid , antiglucocorticoid , antagonist , endocrinology , glucocorticoid receptor , medicine , hippocampal formation , receptor antagonist , receptor , pharmacology , psychology , biology , neuroscience , hormone , pregnancy , genetics
The glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone has been shown to rapidly and effectively ameliorate symptoms of psychotic major depression. To better understand its mechanism, we investigated mifepristone's cellular effects, and found that it rapidly reversed a chronic corticosterone‐induced reduction of adult neurogenesis in rats. Unlike other antidepressants, mifepristone is particularly potent in a high corticosterone environment. These data indicate that similarly to its clinical efficacy, mifepristone's effects on adult neurogenesis are rapid and positive, and may therefore be important for its mechanism of action.