These in vivo infusion experiments also reveal a novel β-adrenoceptor-mediated LTD effect on glutamatergic synaptic signaling in dentate gyrus. Conflict of Interest None declared. Funding Information NSERC A9791 to C. W. H.
Numerous reports in the literature have previously underlined the importance of mood disturbances and emotional manifestations associated with evolving multiple sclerosis Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical (MS) (Feinstein and Feinstein 2001; Mohr and Cox 2001; Montreuil and Petropoulou 2003; Montel and Bungener 2007; Dahl et al. 2009). Indeed, lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder in MS patients is estimated to be around 50% (Mohr

and Cox 2001). Although less attention has been focused on anxiety, it is also reported to be common,

affecting an estimated 34% of patients (Montel and Bungener 2007). Other emotional disturbances have been reported Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical in patients with MS, such as pathological laughing and crying, emotional lability, and alexithymia (Montreuil and Petropoulou 2003; Montel and Bungener 2007). Alexithymia Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical is a psychological construct initially described by Sifneos (1973) based on speech patterns from patients with classic psychosomatic diseases. It was subsequently also observed among patients with a variety of psychiatric disorders involving disturbances in emotional regulation (Guilbaud et al. 2002). Alexithymia comprises four main aspects: first, difficulty in identifying and describing feelings to others; Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical second, restricted imaginative processes; third, a propensity to act in order to avoid resolving conflicts; and fourth, a detailed description of facts, events, and physical symptoms (Taylor 1984, 2000). Among the scales used to measure alexithymia, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20; Bagby et al. 1994) evaluates three main aspects (Dahl et al. 2009): (1) difficulties identifying feelings (DIF); (2) difficulties describing feelings (DDF); and (3) externally oriented thinking (EOT). The first two factors refer to emotional

awareness and expression and might therefore be considered as almost “affect-related,” while the third Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Angiogenesis inhibitor factor refers to a specific tendency to deal with superficial themes and to avoid affective thinking and may therefore be considered more cognitive (Grynberg et al. 2010). In patients with MS, alexithymia is mainly characterized as difficulty in identifying and describing emotions, a paucity of fantasies (e.g. lack of daydreams or dreams), and a discourse centered on facts and symptoms (Montreuil and Lyon-Caen 1993). Alexithymia may play a role in the development and severity of depression (Bodini et al. 2008; Gay et al. 2010). Indeed, MS ultimately leads to significant limitations and loss of autonomy due to the evolving nature of the disease, and these changes can require considerable and repeated social, professional, and familial adjustments.