Mechanisms of Depression and Cardiovascular Pathology

描述：（由申请人提供）：本研究提案涉及 生理机制和过程之间的关联 抑郁症和心血管疾病。人类研究表明 抑郁症和冠状动脉疾病之间的联系，但没有进展超过 相关方法目前的建议将审查基本的 抑郁症和心血管病理学的机制，使用啮齿动物模型 抑郁症（慢性轻度压力）和行为， 生理学和药理学技术。大鼠将暴露于慢性 轻度应激诱导抑郁相关的快感缺乏症（减少 体验快乐的能力），并进行心血管损伤测试 (Aim 1）。自主神经系统的不平衡将作为一种机制进行检查， 心血管功能障碍（例如，心率加快和心率减慢 速率变异性）与慢性轻度应激模型（目标2）相关。在 此外，中枢5-羟色胺活性将作为一种常见的 抑郁症和抑郁症的病理生理因素 心血管/自主神经功能障碍（目的3）。这项研究将扩大我们的 了解心理和生理之间的相互作用 条件，并可能促进新的治疗方法的发展， 患有抑郁症和/或心血管疾病。

DESCRIPTION: (provided by applicant): This research proposal addresses physiological mechanisms and processes underlying the association between depression and cardiovascular disease. Human studies demonstrate a strong link between depression and coronary artery disease but have not progressed beyond correlational methods. The current proposal will examine the underlying mechanisms in depression and cardiovascular pathology by using a rodent model of depression (chronic mild stress) and a combination of behavioral, physiological, and pharmacological techniques. Rats will be exposed to chronic mild stress to induce the depression-associated sign of anhedonia (a reduced capacity to experience pleasure), and tested for cardiovascular impairments (Aim 1). Autonomic nervous system imbalance will be examined as a mechanism for the cardiovascular dysfunction (e.g., elevated heart rate and reduced heart rate variability) associated with the chronic mild stress model (Aim 2). In addition, central serotonin activity will be examined as a common pathophysiological factor underlying both depression and cardiovascular/autonomic dysfunction (Aim 3). This research will extend our knowledge of the interactions between psychological and physiological conditions, and possibly prompt the development of new treatments for patients with depression and/or cardiovascular disease.