Distribution of Leptin receptor-expressing Cells in Various Regions of the Mouse Brain

Abstract

One of the most life-changing mental disorders in the population all over the world is depression. There have been many treatment options that have been introduced in the medical field but the most prevalent are antidepressants that may not be effective leading to the constant need for more research to be done regarding other viable options when it comes to treating patients with this serious mental disorder. Recent research regarding depression has shifted its focus to the hormone leptin. This hormone has been the topic of many recent findings as it has been found out that leptin has antidepressant-like effects; with this emerging research, it has become more of an interest to find out the potential function of leptin in depression. The hormone is already well known for its role in the control of energy homeostasis, but recent findings have supported that leptin is also involved “in the regulation of mood and emotion” (Lu, 2007). By locating leptin receptor-expressing cells in various regions of the brain, it may bring about more knowledge and evidence in the scientific community of how to manipulate leptin receptor-expressing cells and possibly use this information for the discovery of potential therapeutic targets or new strategies as compared to the traditional route of pills and drugs.