The Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is an important issue for public health. It often appears during the adolescence, and, among the related consequences, suicide is the second cause of death in this age group. Despite its social relevance, however, MDD is far to be understood, and there is some lack of information about its early […]
Development and differentiation

Truncated glycine transporter 1 causes a novel subtype of NKH
Glycine is the simplest amino acid and a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). Its activity is mainly inhibitory in caudal regions of CNS, but it also has a co-agonist role at a specific subtype of glutamate receptors present throughout the CNS. Extracellular glycine levels are regulated by two types of transporters, called […]
First case of hyperglycinemia due to a glycine transporter dysfunction
Glycine is one of the 20 amino acids that constitute the structure of proteins. In addition to that, glycine takes an active part in the synthesis of other molecules such as serine, heme, purine, creatine, and glutathione. Also, it acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). Two main control systems regulate […]

Adenosine receptors may help neuronal regeneration
A fundamental step in neuronal development is constituted by the axonal growth and the dendritic branching. Many intra- and extra-cellular signals regulate this process, indeed is very important that the growth of neuronal extremities follow a precise direction in order to reach their target cells. The distal tip of the axon is a specialized structure […]
Genes, dopamine and creativity in everyday life
The frescos of Sistine Chapel, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, the unpredictable Leo Messi’s dribbles… these are only some examples of creativity at the highest level. But creativity is not only a prerogative of few “beautiful minds”. Every person in everyday life has to deal with common problems that require a certain dose of creativity to […]