Posted by jrbecker on August 27, 2003, at 12:29:54
In reply to upregulating BDNF, posted by linkadge on August 27, 2003, at 9:47:04
> I am looking for compounds other than
> antidepressants, that are able to
> upregulate BDNF.
>
> I know that exercise can,
> but are there any vitamins,
> or minerals that people know
> of that can do such a thing ??
>
>
> Thanks
>
> Linkadge
>blueberries and omega-3's.
But EXERCISE itself has the largest effect on the neurotrophins. It is unclear whether 1) ADs/mood stabilizers or 2) intense daily exercise has a larger effect on increasing BDNF. But it is clear that combining the two has been shown to increase treatment outcomes (in lab rats) significantly....
Van Hoomissen JD, Chambliss HO, Holmes PV, Dishman RK.
Effects of chronic exercise and imipramine on mRNA for BDNF after olfactory bulbectomy in rat.
Brain Res. 2003 Jun 6;974(1-2):228-35.
"We examined the effects of chronic activity wheel running and antidepressant treatment on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) messenger RNA (mRNA) in multiple brain regions-hippocampal formation (HF), ventral tegmental area/substantia nigra (VTA/SN), nucleus accumbens (NAc), and piriform cortex (PFx)-after bilateral olfactory bulbectomy (OBX). Male, Long-Evans rats (n=72) underwent either sham or OBX surgery and were randomly divided into eight experimental groups in a 2 (sham vs. OBX) x 2 (sedentary vs. activity wheel)x2 (saline vs. imipramine) factorial design. Animals were killed after 21 days of treatment. Drug x exercise interaction effects were observed for HF (P=0.006-0.023) and VTA/SN (P=0.021); exercise increased BDNF mRNA in the saline treated animals but not in the imipramine treated animals. OBX did not affect BDNF mRNA in the HF or VTA/SN (P>0.05). BDNF mRNA levels in the PFx were not altered by exercise, drug, or OBX (P>0.05). These results suggest that the effect of exercise on BDNF mRNA extends beyond the HF to the mesolimbic ventral tegmental area and that the potentiation of BDNF mRNA by exercise and antidepressant pharmacotherapy, reported by other investigators, is time limited." [Abstract]Russo-Neustadt A, Ha T, Ramirez R, Kesslak JP.
Physical activity-antidepressant treatment combination: impact on brain-derived neurotrophic factor and behavior in an animal model.
Behav Brain Res. 2001 Apr 8;120(1):87-95.
"The mechanism of antidepressant action, at the cellular level, is not clearly understood. It has been reported that chronic antidepressant treatment leads to an up-regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA levels in the hippocampus, and that physical activity (voluntary running) enhances this effect. We wished to investigate whether BDNF expression brought about by these interventions may overcome deficits caused by acute stress, and might impact behavior in an animal model. In this report, we have tested the hypothesis that the combination of the antidepressant, tranylcypromine, and physical exercise could lead to decreased neurotrophin deficits and enhanced swimming time in animals that have been forced to swim in an inescapable water tank. Rats were either treated with tranylcypromine, engaged in voluntary running, or both for one week. After these treatments, the animals underwent a two-day forced swimming procedure. BDNF mRNA levels were significantly depressed in untreated animals subjected to forced swimming. Animals that either underwent prior activity or received antidepressant showed BDNF mRNA levels restored to baseline. Animals receiving the combined intervention showed an increase in hippocampal BDNF mRNA well above baseline. Swimming time during a five-minute test was significantly enhanced in animals receiving the combined intervention over untreated animals. Swimming time was not significantly enhanced over that of animals receiving antidepressant alone, however. Enhanced swimming time correlated with increased levels of BDNF mRNA in one hippocampal sub-region (CA4-hilus). These results suggest that the combination of exercise and antidepressant treatment may have significant neurochemical, and possibly behavioral, effects. In addition, these results support the possibility that the enhancement of BDNF expression may be an important element in the clinical response to antidepressant treatment. The induction of BDNF expression by activity/pharmacological treatment combinations could represent an important intervention for further study, to potentially improve depression treatment and management." [Abstract]
poster:jrbecker
thread:254668
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030823/msgs/254711.html