Common aspects of neuroplasticity, stress, mood disorders and mitochondrial functions

Neuroplasticity is a fundamental mechanism of neuronal adaptation to external and internal stimuli. There are evidences that chronic stress and mood disorders disrupt neuroplasticity, while antidepressant treatment can enhance neuroplasticity. Mitochondria strongly affect many intracellular processes coupled to plasticity and neuron survival. Mitochondrial dysfunctions are assuming an increasingly important role in hypotheses about mood disorders, bipolar disorder mainly. Here we provide an overview of basic mechanisms of neuroplasticity, molecular and cellular mechanisms accompanying chronic stress, mood disorders and mitochondrial functions. Better insight into common molecular mechanisms of stress, mood disorders, effects of antidepressants and mitochondrial functions is likely to lead to better understanding of pathophysiology of depression or interindividual variations in response to antidepressant treatment.