Roles of olfactory system dysfunction in depression

• Published in: Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry Vol. 54; pp. 26 - 30
• Main Authors: Yuan, Ti-Fei, Slotnick, Burton M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 03.10.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Animals; Antidepressant; Biological and medical sciences; Cranial nerves. Spinal roots. Peripheral nerves. Autonomic nervous system. Gustation. Olfaction; Depression; Depressive Disorder - physiopathology; Depressive Disorder - therapy; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Limbic system; Medical sciences; Mood disorders; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurogenesis; Neurogenesis - physiology; Neurology; Neuropharmacology; Olfactory Bulb - physiopathology; Olfactory Bulb - surgery; Olfactory bulbectomy; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease); Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Smell - physiology; AON; Antidepressant; BNST; OB; OBX; HPA; Depression; Limbic system; Olfactory bulbectomy; Neurogenesis; QOL; Mood disorder; Nervous system diseases; Psychotropic; Central nervous system; Encephalon; Olfaction; Antidepressant agent; Olfactory disorder; Neurological disorder
• ISSN: 0278-5846; 1878-4216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2014.05.013

The olfactory system is involved in sensory functions, emotional regulation and memory formation. Olfactory bulbectomy in rat has been employed as an animal model of depression for antidepressant discovery studies for many years. Olfaction is impaired in animals suffering from chronic stress, and patients with clinical depression were reported to have decreased olfactory function. It is believed that the neurobiological bases of depression might include dysfunction in the olfactory system. Further, brain stimulation, including nasal based drug delivery could provide novel therapies for management of depression. •The olfactory system plays an important role in emotion regulation and memory formation.•Olfactory bulb removal provides a useful model to study depression.•Patients with depression experience changes in olfaction.•The olfactory system represents a target for treatment of depression.