Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026

The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice
Published on: October 24, 2018
The nucleus reuniens: a key node in the neurocircuitry of stress and depression
V Kafetzopoulos1, N Kokras1,2, I Sotiropoulos3,4
1Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Abstract:
The hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) are connected in a reciprocal manner: whereas the hippocampus projects directly to the PFC, a polysynaptic pathway that passes through the nucleus reuniens (RE) of the thalamus relays inputs from the PFC to the hippocampus. The present study demonstrates that lesioning and/or inactivation of the RE reduces coherence in the PFC-hippocampal pathway, provokes an antidepressant-like behavioral response in the forced swim test and prevents, but does not ameliorate, anhedonia in the chronic mild stress (CMS) model of depression. Additionally, RE lesioning before CMS abrogates the well-known neuromorphological and endocrine correlates of CMS. In summary, this work highlights the importance of the reciprocal connectivity between the hippocampus and PFC in the establishment of stress-induced brain pathology and suggests a role for the RE in promoting resilience to depressive illness.
Related Concept Videos
Neurotransmitters
Components of Stress
Interestingly, the hidden cube faces also experience these stresses, equal and opposite to those on the...
Neurotransmitters
Physiological Foundation of Stress
Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System
Adrenaline triggers the...
Stress Response System
Alarm stage
In the alarm stage, the body's initial...
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...

