shoe
06-20-2005, 03:23 PM
In Spain, some research is being done using Tetanus (a typically dangerous toxin) to cure anxiety and depression. It appears that the 'harmless part' of the "Tetanus toxin molecules" help to inhibit serotonin from being transmitted between neurons in the brain, which can potentially help with some disorders:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=26136
and a shorter version here:
http://www.psycport.com/showArticle.cfm?xmlFile=comtex%5F2005%5F06%5F15%5F up%5F0000%2D0121%2Dbc%2Dspain%2Ddepression%2Eew%2E xml&provider=United%20Press%20International
-dan
Side commentary:
I have a few questions that weren't answered by the article. They dont really say whether its the postsynaptic membrane (where the neuroreceptors are) or the presynaptic membrane (where the neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft) that the serotonin is prevented from passing through.
And the article seems to indicate that less transmission of serotonin is better, but the way SSRI's work (which are one of the most popular current treatments) is by preventing the reuptake of serotonin and thus making it more likely that serotonin 'messages' get sent to the neuroreceptors of the receiving neuron. One site considered that action "restoring balance" to an unhealthy system, where the serotonin is sometimes not transmitted properly. So the claims of the new study is confusing to me. How can preventing the messages from being sent help? Perhaps they just didn't describe what it does properly, or I'm missing something?
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=26136
and a shorter version here:
http://www.psycport.com/showArticle.cfm?xmlFile=comtex%5F2005%5F06%5F15%5F up%5F0000%2D0121%2Dbc%2Dspain%2Ddepression%2Eew%2E xml&provider=United%20Press%20International
-dan
Side commentary:
I have a few questions that weren't answered by the article. They dont really say whether its the postsynaptic membrane (where the neuroreceptors are) or the presynaptic membrane (where the neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft) that the serotonin is prevented from passing through.
And the article seems to indicate that less transmission of serotonin is better, but the way SSRI's work (which are one of the most popular current treatments) is by preventing the reuptake of serotonin and thus making it more likely that serotonin 'messages' get sent to the neuroreceptors of the receiving neuron. One site considered that action "restoring balance" to an unhealthy system, where the serotonin is sometimes not transmitted properly. So the claims of the new study is confusing to me. How can preventing the messages from being sent help? Perhaps they just didn't describe what it does properly, or I'm missing something?