Heterocyclic compound for the prevention and treatment of depressive disorders

Depression can be the consequence of expositions to stressful events. A team from the Brain and Spine Institute established the correlation between BDNF protein levels in blood and vulnerability to depression. By involving BDNF in the maintenance of the cellular redox homeostasis, the team proved that the antioxidative molecule 4-hydroxy-TEMPO (TEMPOL) can successfully prevent the appearance of clinical signs of depression.