Desipramine reduces stress-activated dynorphin expression and CREB phosphorylation in NAc tissue.

ABSTRACT: The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a critical brain area for reward and motivated behavior. Accumulating evidence suggests that altered function of the transcription factor cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) within the NAc is involved in depressive behavior. In rats, stress activates CREB within the NAc, and elevation of CREB expression in this region produces depressive-like behaviors that are accompanied by activation of CREB-regulated target genes. The depressive-like behaviors seem to be due, at least in part, to CREB-mediated increases in dynorphin function, because they are mimicked by kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) agonists and attenuated by KOR antagonists. We hypothesized that if CREB-mediated dynorphin expression in the NAc contributes to depressive behavior, then antidepressa

SUBMITTER: Chartoff EH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2684917 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature