Posted by Alexanderfromdenmark on March 6, 2009, at 10:38:05
In reply to Do SSRI's cause dopamine depletion, posted by Alexanderfromdenmark on March 3, 2009, at 10:46:37
I must say this concerns me a bit
"Chronic treatment with fluoxetine (Prozac) has been shown to cause persistent desensitization of 5HT1A receptors even after removal of the SSRI in rats.[25] These long-term adaptive changes in 5-HT receptors, as well as more complex, global changes, are likely to be mediated through alterations of gene expression.[26][27][28][29][30] Some of these gene expression changes are a result of altered DNA structure caused by chromatin remodeling,[31][32] specifically epigenetic modification of histones[33] and gene silencing by DNA methylation due to increased expression of the methyl binding proteins MeCP2 and MBD1.[34] Altered gene expression and chromatin remodeling are also involved in the mechanism of action of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).[35][36]
Because described gene expression changes are complex, and can involve persistent modifications of chromatin structure, it has been suggested that SSRI use can result in persistently altered cerebral gene expression leading to compromised catecholaminergic neurotransmission and neuroendocrine disturbances,[11] such as decreased testosterone levels[37], reduced sperm counts[38], and reduced semen quality with damaged sperm DNA[39]. However, without detailed neuropsychopharmacological, pharmacogenomic and toxicogenomic[40] research, the definitive cause remains unknown."
poster:Alexanderfromdenmark
thread:883495
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/neuro/20090129/msgs/884073.html