Research project No. 41310 of Grant Agency of Charles University
Effect of antidepressants and mood disorders on mitochondrial functions.
Mgr. Jana Hroudová, doc. RNDr. Zdeněk Fišar, CSc.
Department of Psychiatry, First Faculty oof Medicine, Charles University in Prague
We suggest that severity of depression is related to impaired energetics of synapses. Then, therapeutic effects of antidepressants can be achieved by changes of mitochondrial functions and lead to the resumption of neuronal plasticity. According to this hypothesis we are studying effects of pharmacologically different antidepressants and mood stabilizers on: 1. activity of enzymes in the tricarboxylic acid cycle; 2. activity of the respiratory enzymes in the electron transport chain; 3. kinetics of the total oxygen consumption in mitochondria. Our aims are to find the most influenced enzymes and complexes in mitochondria and to suggest them as perspective biological markers of mood disorders or as predictors of the therapeutic responses to antidepressants. As samples synaptosomes obtained from pigs' brains and blood cells (especially platelets) isolated from human blood (controls and patients suffering from bipolar affective disorder) are used. Spectrophotometric, fluorescence and electrochemical methods will be applied. Results of the project will be findings, whether measured mitochondrial functions are sensitive to effects of pharmacologically different antidepressants and mood stabilizers and comparisons of these mitochondrial parameters at healthy persons and patients suffering from bipolar affective disease.