Early and time-dependent modulation of rat hippocampal miRNome during treatment with agomelatine

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that act as posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression. In the past few years growing evidence has supported a key role for miRNAs in central nervous system development and homeostasis [1]. More recently,dysregulation in miRNA expres- sion have been observed in different neuropsychiatric disorders,including major depression, and a few studies have suggested a role for miRNAs in the action of mood stabilizers and antidepressants [2]. Based on this, aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of treatment for 3 and 21 days with agomelatine, a new antidepressant with a unique receptor profile as MT1/MT2 receptors agonist and 5-HT2C receptor antagonist [3], on the miRNome expression profile in rat hippocampus