Table 1.
Summary of the cellular and physiological effects of BDNF, glucocorticoids, stress, major depressive disorders, and antidepressant therapies.
| BDNF | Glucocorticoids | Stress | Major depression | Antidepressant therapies | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synaptic structure | Formation, maintenance | Formation, elimination, and maintenance#¶ | Formation, elimination#¶ | Elimination¶ | Formation, maintenance#¶ |
| Synaptic function | Potentiation | Potentiation, depression#¶ | Potentiation, depression#¶ | Depression¶ | Potentiation#¶ |
| Mitochondria structure | Biogenesis∗ | Augmented/diminished#∗ | Augmented/diminished# | Diminished¶ | Augmented/diminished#∗ |
| Mitochondria energetics function | Augmented ¶ | Augmented/diminished#∗ | Augmented/diminished#∗ | Diminished¶ | Augmented/diminished#∗ |
| Mitochondria redox function | Augmented¶ | Augmented/diminished#∗ | Augmented/diminished# | Diminished¶ | Augmented#∗ |
| Learning and memory | Augmented¶ | Augmented/diminished# | Augmented/diminished# | Diminished | Augmented# |
| Despair and anxiety | Diminished¶ | Augmented/diminished# | Augmented/diminished# | Augmented | Diminished# |
#: effect depends on the dose, duration, and context at exposure.
¶: effect is specific of the brain region.
∗: effect demonstrated in cultured cells.