Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center have uncovered important differences in how stress hormones work in primate brains compared to rodents, opening new possibilities for treating stress-related mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.
The study focuses on corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), a key hormone involved in the body’s response to stress, and its interaction with dopamine neurons, which affect motivation and reward.
While much research has been done on rodents, the team found that primates have more complex dopamine systems and different CRF patterns. These differences may explain why some treatments that work in animals fail in humans.
Dr. Julie Fudge, lead author, explained that primate brains show a wider spread of CRF cells and unique receptor patterns. They also discovered that many dopamine neurons in primates release multiple chemical messengers, creating a sophisticated system for handling stress.
The findings suggest that future treatments should consider these complexities and focus on personalized approaches based on individual differences like age, sex, and early life experiences.
This research offers a fresh roadmap for developing better therapies for stress-related psychiatric conditions by studying brain systems closer to humans rather than relying only on rodent models.
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