Depressive disorders (DDs) are an increasingly common health problem that affects all age groups. DDs pathogenesis is multifactorial. However, it was proven that stress is one of the most important environmental factors contributing to the development of these conditions. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the role of the glutamatergic system in the context of pharmacotherapy of DDs. Thus, it has become increasingly important to explore the functioning of excitatory synapses in pathogenesis and pharmacological treatment of psychiatric disorders (including DDs). This knowledge may lead to the description of new mechanisms of depression and indicate new potential targets for the pharmacotherapy of illness. An excitatory synapse is a highly complex and very dynamic structure, containing a vast number of proteins. This review aimed to discuss in detail the role of the key postsynaptic proteins (e.g., NMDAR, AMPAR, mGluR5, PSD-95, Homer, NOS etc.) in the excitatory synapse and to systematize the knowledge about changes that occur in the clinical course of depression and after antidepressant treatment. In addition, a discussion on the potential use of ligands and/or modulators of postsynaptic proteins at the excitatory synapse has been presented.
Keywords: AMPAR; Homer; NMDAR; NOS; PSD proteins; animal models of depression; depression; excitatory synapse; human study; mGluR5.