Depression as a Neuroendocrine Disorder: Emerging Neuropsychopharmacological Approaches beyond Monoamines

Figure 3

Neuropeptide pharmacotherapeutic targets in depression. OXT: oxytocin; LHA: lateral nucleus; PVH: paraventricular nucleus; DMH: dorsomedial nucleus; VMH: ventromedial nucleus; ARC: arcuate nucleus; AVPR1B: arginine vasopressin receptor 1B; NK1: neurokinin 1. Key findings regarding the current knowledge on neuropeptides in the neuropsychopharmacology of depression include the following: (1) Abundant preclinical and clinical evidence suggests oxytocin may significantly contribute to the improvement of depression-related symptoms such as sexual dysfunction, anhedonia, and sleep disturbances. (2) AVPR1B antagonists appear to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in both animal and human models. (3) Several modulators of neuropeptide signaling have shown antidepressant activity; however, further research is required to characterize their significance and utility.