Cited by 215Stress Responses and CortisolTreatment of Major DepressionNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

The human hypothalamus in mood disorders: The HPA axis in the center

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Bao, Ai-Min, Swaab, Dick F.·2019·IBRO Reports

Abstract

There are no specific structural neuropathological hallmarks found in the brain of mood disorders. Instead, there are molecular, functional and structural alterations reported in many brain areas. The neurodevelopmental underpinning indicated the presence of various genetic and developmental risk factors. The effect of genetic polymorphisms and developmental sequalae, some of which may start in the womb, result in functional changes in a network mediated by neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, which make the emotion- and stress-related brain systems more vulnerable to stressful events. This network of stress-related neurocircuits consists of, for instance, brainstem nuclei, the amygdala, habenula, prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus. Various nuclei of the hypothalamus form indeed one of the crucial hubs in this network. This structure concerns not only the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that integrate the neuro-endocrine-immune responses to stress, but also other hypothalamic nuclei and systems that play a key role in the symptoms of depression, such as disordered day-night rhythm, lack of reward feelings, disturbed eating, sex, and disturbed cognitive functions. The present review will focus on the changes in the human hypothalamus in depression, with the HPA axis in the center. We will discuss the inordinate network of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides involved, with the hope to find the most vulnerable neurobiological systems and the possible development of tailor-made treatments for mood disorders in the future.

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  1. Meyer-Bahlburg H.F. Ehrhardt A.A. A Prenatal-Hormone Hypothesis for Depression in Adults With a History of Fetal DES Exposure. Hormones and Depression 1987 Raven Press New York, USA

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Authors
Bao, A.-M., & Swaab, D. F.
Affiliations
  • Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University (CN)
  • Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NL)
Corresponding author
Bao, Ai-Min
Venue
IBRO Reports
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-06
Volume
6
Pages
45-53
ISSN
2451-8301 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2904946776
Cited by
212
References
149
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 53 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 2 · 2016: 1
FWCI
1.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • IBRO Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • KNAW research portal (Royal Academy of Art and Sciences (KNAW)) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • KNAW Research Portal (The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC1306700)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (91332102)
  • Programme of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities of China (B13026)
  • Stichting Vrienden van het Herseninstituut
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
hypothalamus, mood disorders, depression, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, stress response, brain development, genetic polymorphism, neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, circadian rhythm, reward, disordered eating, sex differences, cognitive impairment, amygdala, habenula, prefrontal cortex, brainstem nuclei

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