Posted by SLS on March 23, 2002, at 8:55:19
In reply to Re: ltp in the hippocampus » SLS, posted by JohnX2 on March 23, 2002, at 0:24:09
Hi John.
Glad you interjected...
> I want lithium because of its neuroprotective and neurotrophic potential. It is supposed to promote plasticity. Maybe this would help to restore the size and function of the hippocampus. What do you think? Depression has greatly impaired my memory.
> Sorry to budge in on your thread. I'm interested on your comment about lithium and its effects on plasticity in the hippocampus? Can you direct me to any information on this?
What is "ltp"?
I have been keeping an eye on research involving lithium and its ability to change the neuronal output of nerve growth factors and to increase the volume of certain brain regions. Much of this work has been done by Husseini Manji, MD. From what I remember, valproate has also demonstrated some these properties, but not to as great a degree as lithium.
Here a few summary articles from the NDMDA website. Note the damnable observation that there is indeed a neurodegenerative process involved in mood-disorders, particularly with bipolar disorder and conditions involving a chronic overproduction of cortisol. An optimistic perspective lies in the fact that the brain remains plastic and perhaps capable of a significant arresting and reversal of atrophy along with the sprouting of new neurons and neural connections.
LITHIUM: THE ULTIMATE BRAIN FOOD?
http://www.ndmda.org/McManamy.html
Antidepressants have also been shown to restore the size of the hippocampus. However, I wonder if this phenomenon is actually a consequence of an extended remission rather than being intrinsic to the drug itself.
ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND BRAIN CELL GROWTHhttp://www.ndmda.org/ResearchUpdate2-6.html
In another post, you mentioned something regarding 5-HT2 receptors being somehow linked to NMDA function. Can you elaborate?Thanks.
What's going on with you, by the way? It seems that you have had a few "false starts" recently. What gives?
I'm still playing with nortriptyline. There might be something I can glean from it in the absence of Effexor. It seems that Effexor may have interfered with my responding to both nortriptyline and imipramine. Although tricyclics don't do the job, they seem to be of some help when combined with Lamictal.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:98310
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020322/msgs/99627.html