Biochem/physiol Actions
Agomelatine is an extremely potent agonist at both melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2), with additional antagonism at 5HT2C. It is a novel antidepressant with many desired in vivo properties, including neuroprotection and neurogenesis in depression-sensitive brain areas. Agomelatine′s efficacy appears to be due to both melatonergic and serotonergic properties. In neurogenesis assays, both in vitro and in vivo, the compound effects were differentially affected by antagonists for MT1/MT2 and 5HT2C, demonstrating actions through all three receptors.