Posted by SLS on July 23, 2004, at 7:36:56
In reply to Re: Neurogenesis and Depression: still an open deb, posted by Emme on July 22, 2004, at 21:43:48
> I've often wondered about whether the anticonvulsants stimulate neurogenesis.
Both lithium and valproate stimulate an increase of BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor), which I believe leads to neurogenesis.
I haven't digested much of the posted material. I just can't read that much. However, there is something that just doesn't sit right with me regarding the neurogenesis explanation when it comes to ultra rapid cyclers in bipolar disorder. People can flip-flop between two extreme mood states with a periodicity of 48 hours. The switch from one state to the other can occur over the course of less than an hour. Intuitively, this "seems" like it would be more a phenomenon of regulation than a phenomenon of a change in the numbers of cells. However, I guess one cannot discount the possibility that it is an increase in the numbers of cells in areas critical to the regulation of mood that leads to its stabilization. Hmmm. Still, it seems that it is not necessary to effect a change in numbers of cells in order to effect radical changes in mood state.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:368680
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040719/msgs/369296.html