Rho-kinase inhibition has antidepressant-like efficacy and expedites dendritic spine pruning in adolescent mice.

ABSTRACT: Adolescence represents a critical period of neurodevelopment, defined by structural and synaptic pruning within the prefrontal cortex. While characteristic of typical development, this structural instability may open a window of vulnerability to developing neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression. Thus, therapeutic interventions that support or expedite neural remodeling in adolescence may be advantageous. Here, we inhibited the neuronally-expressed cytoskeletal regulatory factor Rho-kinase (ROCK), focusing primarily on the clinically-viable ROCK inhibitor fasudil. ROCK inhibition had rapid antidepressant-like effects in adolescent mice, and its efficacy was comparable to ketamine and fluoxetine. It also modified levels of the antidepressant-related signaling factors, tropomyosin/t

SUBMITTER: Shapiro LP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6365018 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature