Project Summary

Younglim Lee, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2005) of Indiana University, plans to study the role in depressive illness and bipolar disorder of the density of glia, neuronal supporting cells, in certain parts of the brains of animals. Recent post-mortem studies found a significant reduction in glial density in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) or in frontal cortex in patients with major depressive illness or bipolar disorder. It has been hypothesized that compromised integrity of the glial system may underlie a part of pathophysiology of major depression and/or bipolar disorder because of glial cells’ importance in the brain. To investigate this hypothesis, Dr. Lee injected a glia-specific toxin, a-aminoadipic acid (α-AA), into the BLA, which increased anxiety in animals, as measured by decreased social interaction. In the proposed studies, Dr. Lee will investigate whether more precise targeting of the toxin will prevent damage at the injection site and cause selective loss of glia in the amygdala. He also will investigate whether chronic reduction of glia will produce semi-permanent changes in the BLA that can be detected as mood disorder-like behaviors in various animal models. As far as Dr. Lee knows, the behavioral effects of glial reduction have never been investigated. Since decreased glial density is a marker for mood disorders, Dr. Lee believes that understanding the effects of glial reduction will provide valuable insight to mood disorders.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Unipolar/Bipolar

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