Glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor expression in the human hippocampus in major depressive disorder.

ABSTRACT: Approximately 50% of mood disorder patients exhibit hypercortisolism. Cortisol normally exerts its functions in the CNS via binding to mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR). Both MR and GR are highly expressed in human hippocampus and several studies have suggested that alterations in the levels of MR or GR within this region may contribute to the dysregulation in major depressive disorder (MDD). Studies have also shown functional heterogeneity across the hippocampus, with posterior hippocampus preferentially involved in cognitive processes and anterior hippocampus involved in stress, emotion and affect. We therefore hypothesize that GR and MR expression in hippocampus of control and MDD patients may vary not only with disease, but also with regional specificit

SUBMITTER: Medina A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4248661 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature