Project Summary

Tamas Bartfai, Ph.D. (Distinguished Investigator 2003) of The Scripps Research Institute, will examine galanin (a neuropeptide in the Locus Coreleus (LC) and Dorsal Raphe Nucleus or (DRN)) receptor antagonists, or substances which interfere or block the receptor, which he believes may have similar properties as antidepressants and thus indicate areas for drug targets.  Based on prior research, Dr. Bartfai found increased galanin in a rat model of major depression and decreased levels after receipt of anti-depressant-like treatments such as electroconvulsive shock and fluoxetine (Prozac) treatment.  He will study the effects of receptor subtype specific galanin antagonists and agonists (a chemical that can combine with a receptor on a cell to produce a physiologic reaction typical of a naturally occurring substance) in acute depression models, which will allow for evaluation of the antidepressant action and its rate of onset.  Dr. Bartfai has developed new tools for studying galanin, and will study the role of galanin receptor subtype(s) as targets for antidepressant drugs that may alone or with other monoamine uptake blockers hopefully provide a faster antidepressant effect than currently available drugs.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Depression (Unipolar)\Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

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