Researchers from Shanghai Shyndec Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. have detailed the discovery of novel selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)/5-HT1A dual targeting compounds as potential antidepressant candidates.

Researchers in China have discovered a new therapeutic target, and identified a rapid-acting lead compound that may overcome the drawbacks of current antidepressants. The research team, based at Nanjing Medical University’s School of Pharmacy, designed a fast-acting antidepressant that works by disrupting the interaction between the serotonin transporter (SERT) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the dorsal raphe nucleus. The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) of the midbrain influences a number of central nervous system processes, and the main transmitter of the DRN is serotonin, the primary target for most antidepressants. Neurons communicate with each other by releasing a series of neurotransmitters into the synaptic space, and these transmitted electrical signals ultimately determine feelings, thoughts and actions, explained co-lead study author Qi-Gang Zhou. The study was published in Science on Oct. 28, 2022.

A study by Japanese scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology has found that serotonergic neural projections to the brain's orbitofrontal and medial prefrontal cortices differentially modulate patience, as assessed by the time spent awaiting future rewards in mice.