Altered BDNF and Dopamine Levels In Depression

Doctor Abraham Zangen point out that dopamine and BDNF levels in the nucleus accumbens and hippocampus of depressed patients are different. Treatment with antidepressants or ECT can impact these differences.

Yes. So I did not mention that but dopamine is also altered in the nucleus accumbens by brain stimulation and BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) is altered by repeated stimulation. However, in depressive patients, there are some observations of increased BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) levels in the nucleus accumbens unlike what we see in the hippocampus. [This is] in opposite direction of alteration in depressive patients, and antidepressant drugs or electroconvulsive therapy was shown to decrease BDNF levels in the accumbens, unlike what it does in the hippocampus. I think there is less data on that. There is a group in Texas actually studying and they are more focusing on the question of what happens to BDNF in the nucleus accumbens, and they show this type of inverse relationship between BDNF in the accumbens and the hippocampus. My lab is focusing right now especially on the changes in the hippocampus.