Downregulation and upregulation of glial connexins may cause synaptic imbalances responsible for the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder.

CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics
Bernhard J Mitterauer

Abstract

The model of the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder proposed is based on imbalances in tripartite synapses caused by dysregulations of connexin expression in the astrocytic syncytium. If the expression of connexins is downregulated, a compensatory upregulation of astrocytic receptors may occur and be responsible for the pathophysiology of depression. Conversely, if the expression of connexins is upregulated, the expression of the astrocytic receptors may be downregulated and be responsible for the pathophysiology of mania. In depression, a relative lack of neurotransmitters exerts a protracted synaptic information processing, whereas in mania a relative increase of neurotransmitters may accelerate synaptic information processing. In addition, the modulatory role of gliotransmitters may be affected in bipolar disorder. Since the dysregulations of connexins impair the astrocytic syncytium, these disorders could be explanatory for cognitive impairment both in depression and in mania. Finally, the testability of this model is discussed.

References

Sep 1, 1985·The American Journal of Psychiatry·L J Siever, K L Davis
Oct 5, 1973·Science·H S Akiskal, W T McKinney
Nov 1, 1965·The American Journal of Psychiatry·J J Schildkraut
Dec 1, 1965·Archives of General Psychiatry·W E Bunney, J M Davis
Nov 26, 1996·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·A Baddeley
Aug 13, 1998·Glia·R Dermietzel, D C Spray
May 14, 1999·Trends in Neurosciences·A AraqueP G Haydon
Apr 7, 2000·Brain Research. Brain Research Reviews·R DermietzelD C Spray
Jul 19, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·V Parpura, P G Haydon
Apr 20, 2002·Science·Guido GaiettaMark H Ellisman
Jul 12, 2002·Movement Disorders : Official Journal of the Movement Disorder Society·David J Burn
Sep 21, 2002·Biological Psychiatry·Michael P BowleyJoseph L Price
Aug 21, 2003·Physiological Genomics·Dumitru A IacobasDavid C Spray
Oct 4, 2003·Bipolar Disorders·David E FleckStephen M Strakowski
Oct 15, 2003·Neuron·Daniel S Auld, Richard Robitaille
Jan 7, 2004·Journal of Neurosurgery·Wei ZhangWilliam T Couldwell
May 25, 2004·The Neuroscientist : a Review Journal Bringing Neurobiology, Neurology and Psychiatry·Bernhard Mitterauer
Oct 2, 2004·Journal of Psychiatric Research·P O HarveyP Fossati
Dec 2, 2004·Brain Research. Brain Research Reviews·James I NagyJohn E Rash
Apr 5, 2005·The International Journal of Neuroscience·Marcos Arturo Martínez Banaclocha
Oct 19, 2005·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·P V ChoudaryE G Jones
Jan 20, 2006·Theoretical Biology & Medical Modelling·Robert M Caudle
Feb 14, 2006·Journal of Affective Disorders·Rebecca A BrauchRif S El-Mallakh
Mar 21, 2006·Nature·David Stellwagen, Robert C Malenka
Apr 1, 2006·Neuron Glia Biology·Jai-Yoon SulPhilip G Haydon
Jul 4, 2006·Physiological Reviews·Philip G Haydon, Giorgio Carmignoto
Nov 1, 2006·CNS & Neurological Disorders Drug Targets·Paul J LucassenBoldizsar Czeh
Sep 5, 2007·Nature Genetics·Jonathan Sebat
Oct 19, 2007·Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. Supplementum·M BerkT Norman
Mar 19, 2008·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·M M C Gonzalez, G Aston-Jones
May 16, 2008·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Vanessa HouadesChristian Giaume
Jun 10, 2008·Trends in Neurosciences·R Douglas Fields
May 12, 2009·Journal of Affective Disorders·Lisa M McDermott, Klaus P Ebmeier
May 28, 2009·The Neuroscientist : a Review Journal Bringing Neurobiology, Neurology and Psychiatry·Rodrigo Machado-VieiraCarlos A Zarate

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 27, 2012·Medical Hypotheses·Bernhard J Mitterauer
Sep 22, 2012·Medical Hypotheses·Hossein HassanpoorMohsin Raza
Jun 4, 2018·The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology·Pilar Sánchez-BlázquezJavier Garzón
Oct 27, 2017·Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience·Denis SarrouilheMarc Mesnil
Dec 1, 2013·International Journal of Bipolar Disorders·Yonglin GaoRif S El-Mallakh

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is characterized by manic and/or depressive episodes and associated with uncommon shifts in mood, activity levels, and energy. Discover the latest research this illness here.