Posted by dessbee on December 15, 2006, at 8:40:30
In reply to Glucocorticoid receptor hypothesis of depression, posted by dessbee on December 13, 2006, at 5:14:51
It is interesting that animal models show that low glucocorticoid receptor density in the forebrain produces depression-like changes in adrenal axis regulation and behavior. Cortisol is a Glucocorticoid receptor agonist and act on these receptors to inhibit CRH release. So low glucocorticoid receptor density makes HPA-axis less sensitive and more cortisol is needed for feedback inhibition. Depression is like a thermostat gone haywire initiating a stress cascade.
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=544280
Here are some pictures explaining the HPA-axis:
http://www.biology.ucr.edu/people/faculty/Garland/HPA_axis.jpg
http://cti.itc.virginia.edu/~psyc220/kalat/JK367.fig12.6.HPA_axis.jpg
poster:dessbee
thread:713163
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061212/msgs/713894.html