Project Summary

Mark Ansorge, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2005) of the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, proposes studying in animal models the impact of disrupting the function of the serotonin transporter (SERT) during critical developmental periods to understand its role in later affective function. SERT is one of the main pharmacological targets in the treatment of affective disorders. Fluoxetine, or Prozac, belongs to this widely prescribed group of drugs (5-HT reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs), which act by inhibiting SERT function, strengthening and elevating serotonin neurotransmission and alleviating depression and anxiety. But lifelong genetic inhibition of SERT function in animal models has the opposite effect: animals become anxious. Dr. Ansorge’s laboratory also has found that treatment during early postnatal development with fluoxetine mimics this effect of lifelong genetic inhibition of SERT function in mice. Dr. Ansorge hypothesizes that SERT function disruption during critical developmental periods may alter the trajectory of central nervous system development in ways that influences affective function later in life. The proposed study will test this hypothesis and will be critical in understanding the developmental basis of affective disorders and perhaps in helping to guide outcome studies of early antidepressant exposure.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Unipolar Depression

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