Enhanced Brain Cell Growth Observed After Injury Following Use of Antidepressants in Preliminary Research
In a groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, neurosurgeons at the University of Rochester Medical Center have discovered that the anti-depressant imipramine (also known as Tofranil) can promote the creation and survival of new brain cells after traumatic brain injury.
The study, led by Jason Huang, M.D., an associate professor of Neurosurgery and the chief of Neurosurgery at Highland Hospital, found that imipramine enhances neurogenesis and cell survival by restoring brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and reducing astrocyte activation.
The benefits of imipramine did not extend to the motor skills of the mice. However, the team suspects that the molecule BDNF may play a role in the process of the brain creating more neurons in response to anti-depressants. The drug may also help these new cells travel to the exact areas of the brain where they're needed.
The study focused on the anti-depressant imipramine and its effects on the brain after injury. The authors include post-doctoral associates, neurosurgery residents, and undergraduates from the University of Rochester, as well as researchers from New York University, the Chinese PLA General Hospital in Beijing, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Imipramine's effect is likely mediated through molecular pathways involving neuroinflammation modulation and neurotrophic signaling. The drug significantly reduces pro-inflammatory factors such as NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β, which can impair neuronal function and survival if elevated. By dampening this inflammatory response, imipramine creates a more favorable environment for neurogenesis.
Moreover, the transcription factor FoxO3a, which accumulates in the nucleus after traumatic brain injury and is involved in cellular stress responses, may be part of the molecular mechanism influencing brain repair and cell survival. However, direct links to imipramine need further elucidation.
Mice treated with imipramine had approximately 70 percent more neurons after four weeks than mice that did not receive the medication. The team is aiming to improve the brain's intrinsic mechanism to repair itself and help patients recover more brain function than they can now, even with extensive work and rehabilitation.
The study also found that mice treated with imipramine had a better memory, as demonstrated by a novel object recognition test. This suggests that imipramine may not only promote neurogenesis but also improve cognitive function.
The team's findings are significant as traumatic brain injury, experienced by approximately 1.4 million Americans each year, requires aggressive treatment that often involves surgery, protective procedures, and long-term rehabilitation. The benefits of imipramine could potentially provide a new avenue for treatment and recovery.
The study was funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and by the University of Rochester. Jason Huang, who is also a scientist in the Center for Neural Development and Disease, believes that this research is a step towards understanding the brain's natural healing process and could lead to new treatments for traumatic brain injury and other neurological disorders.
Patient care in the field of health-and-wellness could be improved through the use of therapies-and-treatments such as imipramine, as this drug has been shown to promote neurogenesis and cell survival after traumatic brain injury. Mental-health benefits might also be a potential outcome, as the study found that mice treated with imipramine had a better memory, suggesting possible cognitive function improvements.
