Mice Study May Help Human Depression
(St. Louis, AP, 12/27/04)

Stress typically causes the brain to signal the adrenal glands to release hormones, including glucocorticoid, to maintain physiological equilibrium in the organs; however, seriously depressed people release adrenal hormones in excessive amounts, which may alter the way that their brains react to stress. To test the theory that the brain’s inability to sense glucocorticoid may trigger depression, Dr. Louis Muglia of Washington University, St. Louis, and team, genetically engineered mice to gradually lose glucocorticoid. The glucocorticoid imbalance in the mice was associated with their exhibiting “depressed” behavior during stressful situations. These findings suggest that genetic variations may contribute to human depression. Scientists will follow up by trying to isolate the genes that interact with glucocorticoid receptors.