T. Steckler et al., Effects of the monoamine oxidase A inhibitor moclobemide on hippocampal plasticity in GR-impaired transgenic mice, J PSYCH RES, 35(1), 2001, pp. 29-42
A reduction in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) function leads to hippocampus-d
ependent allocentric spatial learning deficits, altered novelty exploration
and disrupted hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) in transgenic mice
expressing a CR antisense construct. After continuous long-term treatment o
f these mice with moclobemide (a reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase
A). spatial navigation performance but nut accuracy improved during initial
acquisition. These changes were associated with a shift of the threshold f
or the induction of hippocampal LTP at low stimulation frequencies. Moreove
r, novel object exploration increased in both control and transgenic animal
s following long-term treatment with moclobemide. These findings open the p
ossibility that antidepressants might improve hippocampal function under co
nditions of impaired stress hormone regulation, and that these drugs might
in part act through this mechanism to attenuate cognitive deficiency in dis
orders such as depression. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.