Exp Neurobiol.  2014 Mar;23(1):28-35. 10.5607/en.2014.23.1.28.

Disturbance of the Glutamatergic System in Mood Disorders

• Jun C
• Choi Y
• Lim SM
• Bae S
• Hong YS
• Kim JE
• Lyoo IK

• KMID: 2009022
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5607/en.2014.23.1.28

Abstract

The role of glutamatergic system in the neurobiology of mood disorders draws increasing attention, as disturbance of this system is consistently implicated in mood disorders including major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Thus, the glutamate hypothesis of mood disorders is expected to complement and improve the prevailing monoamine hypothesis, and may indicate novel therapeutic targets. Since the contribution of astrocytes is found to be crucial not only in the modulation of the glutamatergic system but also in the maintenance of brain energy metabolism, alterations in the astrocytic function and neuroenergetic environment are suggested as the potential neurobiological underpinnings of mood disorders. In the present review, the evidence of glutamatergic abnormalities in mood disorders based on postmortem and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies is presented, and disrupted energy metabolism involving astrocytic dysfunction is proposed as the underlying mechanism linking altered energy metabolism, perturbations in the glutamatergic system, and pathogenesis of mood disorders.

Keyword

mood disorders; major depressive disorder; bipolar disorder; glutamate; astrocytes; magnetic resonance spectroscopy

MeSH Terms

Astrocytes
Bipolar Disorder
Brain
Complement System Proteins
Depressive Disorder, Major
Energy Metabolism
Glutamic Acid
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Mood Disorders*
Neurobiology
Complement System Proteins
Glutamic Acid