The DOI matches its Crossref record; 253 of the 256 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Remodeling of axo-spinous synapses in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression
Open accessAbstract
Dendritic spines provide a compartment for assembly and functional organization of synaptic machinery that plays a fundamental role in neuronal communication and neuroplasticity. Studies in humans as well as in animal models have demonstrated abnormal spine architecture in several psychiatric disorders, including depression and other stress-related illnesses. The negative impact of stress on the density and organization of spines is thought to contribute to the behavioral deficits caused by stress exposure. Moreover, there is now evidence that medication-induced recovery involves changes in synaptic plasticity and dendrite morphology, including increased expression of pre- and postsynaptic plasticity-related proteins, as well as the density and function of axo-spinous synapses. Here we review the evidence from brain imaging and postmortem studies demonstrating that depression is accompanied by structural and functional alterations of cortical and limbic brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. In addition, we present more direct evidence from basic research studies that exposure to stress alters spine morphology, function and plasticity and that antidepressants, particularly new rapid acting agents, reverse these effects. Elucidation of the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms that control spine synapse assembly and plasticity will contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of depression and development of novel, more effective therapeutic agents.
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“Congruent to this finding, in a postmortem analysis of MD patients, reduced densities and mean sizes of frontal cortex neurons and reduced hippocampal volume with increased numbers of glial cells are reported (Licznerski and Duman, 2013).”
From Serotonin and neuroplasticity – Links between molecular, functional and structural pathophysiology in depression (2017) · cites this paper as Licznerski and Duman, 2013
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“Studies from animal models confirm that medication-induced recovery involves changes in plasticity, dendritic morphology and density and function of synapses (for review seeLicznerski and Duman, 2013).”
From Serotonin and neuroplasticity – Links between molecular, functional and structural pathophysiology in depression (2017) · cites this paper as Licznerski and Duman, 2013
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“Congruent to this finding, in a postmortem analysis of MD patients, reduced densities and mean sizes of frontal cortex neurons and reduced hippocampal volume with increased numbers of glial cells are reported (Licznerski and Duman, 2013).”
From Serotonin and neuroplasticity – Links between molecular, functional and structural pathophysiology in depression (2017) · cites this paper as Licznerski and Duman, 2013
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“There is evidence of vmPFC gray matter loss in mood disorders7,115,116, which implies dendritic atrophy.”
From Stress weakens prefrontal networks: molecular insults to higher cognition (2015) · cites this paper as [115]
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- Dwyer, 2011, mTOR activation is required for the antidepressant effects of mGluR2/3 blockade, Int J Neuropsychopharmacol, 1
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Metadata
- Authors
- Licznerski, P., & Duman, R. S.
- Affiliations
- Yale University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Duman, R.S.
- Venue
- Neuroscience
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-10
- Volume
- 251
- Pages
- 33-50
- ISSN
- 0306-4522 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3566360
- OpenAlex
- W2065851490
- Cited by
- 157
- References
- 256
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 1.17
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH093897, R37MH045481)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology (medical) › Treatment of Major Depression
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- depression, dendritic spines, synaptic plasticity, stress, antidepressants, rapid-acting antidepressants, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, limbic system, neuroplasticity, dendritic spine morphology
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Brain, Depression, Humans, Neuronal Plasticity, Neurons, Stress, Physiological, Synapses, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
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