Functional interactions between glial s-100b and central nervous system serotonergic neurons

摘要

A method for stimulating the production of S-100B in a subject is provided by administering an effective amount of a 5-HT--1A receptor agonist, the agonists including receptor, including an antipeptide antibody to a functional domain of a 5-HT--1A receptor. Additional methods for stimulating the growth of central serotonergic neurons are provided, by contacting such neurons with an effective amount of S-100B, or analog or derivative thereof, and the growth of central serotonergic neurons is inhibited by contacting the neurons with an effective amount of an inhibitor of S-100B production or action. Furthermore, diseases associated with decreased central serotonergic innervation or activity including autism, depression, anxiety, biological rhythm-based sleep disorder, and cortical brain damage may be treated by such methods. Diseases associated with increased central serotonergic innervation but ineffective astroglial S-100B release, such as Down's Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease may be treated by up-regulating astroglial 5-HT--1A receptors, followed by stimulation of S-100B production or release using a 5-HT--1A receptor agonist, including an anti-peptide antibody to a functional domain of a 5-HT--1A receptor.