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An Overview of Neural Communication  To understand how anti-depressants work, it is necessary to have some understanding of how the brain at large works. The brain is made up of billions of interconnected cells called neurons. Electrical messages are sent down the axons of neurons much like electricity runs down a wire.  When the message reaches the end of a neuron (the terminal button) that neuron (presynaptic neuron) releases chemicals (neurotransmitters) into a tiny gap (synaptic gap) between it and another neuron (postsynaptic neuron). The neurotransmitter engages the postsynaptic neuron at a specific receptor of its dendritic spine, the branched treelike structure attached to the cell body of a neuron that receives chemical information. The chemical information is then converted into an electrical signal that travels down the axon of the neuron to the terminal button which then releases its own neurotransmitter chemicals to be received by the receptors of the next neuron in line. Only certain neurotransmitter chemicals fit into specific receptors.
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The common analogy of how a neurotransmitter engages a receptor is that of a lock and key. (although it's obviously more complicated than this picture illustrates).