Role of Serotonin Type-1A/B (Hydroxytryptamine) Receptors in Depression Revisited

Abstract

Depression is among the common psychiatric disorders, therefore the common pathways and pathogenesis associated with depression is required to be studied. In few years, role of 5-hydroxytryptamine-1A/B (5-HT1A/B) receptors in depressive disorders have been revealed. Both preclinical and clinical studies reported that the potential agonist and antagonist at 5-HT1A/B receptors have significant modulatory effects in depression. However, the collective details regarding the involvement of 5-HT1A/B receptors and the molecular pathways associated in depression is lacking. Thus, the present review evidence the link between 5-HT1A/B receptors in the brain and depression, the possible pathways involved and their alterations in depression. Further, it reviews the preclinical evidences of 5-HT1A/B receptor modulators as antidepressant agents and their effectiveness. The current review also details the clinical relevance of 5-HT1A/B receptors etiopathogenesis of major depression in humans.