redsun
Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2018
- Messages
- 3,013
I think the main reason why zinc makes you feel more anhedonic is because it antagonizes the dorsal raphe (DR) nucleus in the brain by acting on the 5-HT1A. The DR nucleus promotes mesolimbic dopamine, so lowering DR serotonin lowers mesolimbic dopamine, thus creating a state of anhedonia. This is also how zinc mostly lowers libido.
I don't think it's through the NMDA receptor because glutamate acts on the locus coeruleus (LC) and the DR nucleus to release noradrenaline and serotonin. Blocking NMDA can lower excess activation, but glutamate can still act through its other receptors, which can then still sufficiently stimulate the LC and DR.
Thanks for the good info hans that helps make things more clear on zinc.