Ronald Duman and colleagues report that synapse number is reduced in subjects with major depressive disorder. This is associated with decreased expression of synapse-related genes and increased expression of the transcriptional repressor, GATA1. Expression of GATA1 in prefrontal cortex neurons decreases the expression of synapse-related genes, reduces dendrite branching and produces depressive behavior in a rat model of depression.
- Hyo Jung Kang
- Bhavya Voleti
- Ronald S Duman
