Chinese researchers at Nanjing Medical University have developed a new compound named ZZL-7 capable of producing antidepressant effects within hours among rodents.
The study was published in the journal Science.
The drug ZZL-7 works by modifying the firing of neurons that produce serotonin in the dorsal raphe nucleus and increasing serotonin in the medial prefrontal cortex.
“Sun et al. discovered that dissociating the serotonin transporter from nitric oxide synthase specifically reduced intercellular serotonin concentration in a brain region called the dorsal raphe nucleus,” the authors stated in the journal article.
“We discovered a small-molecule compound, ZZL-7, that elicited an antidepressant effect 2 hours after treatment without undesirable side effects. This compound, or analogous reagents, may serve as a new, rapidly acting treatment for major depressive disorder.”
The findings can be read by clicking here.
