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Updated: Jan 20, 2026

A Mouse Model of Subchronic and Mild Social Defeat Stress for Understanding Stress-induced Behavioral and Physiological Deficits
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A Mouse Model of Subchronic and Mild Social Defeat Stress for Understanding Stress-induced Behavioral and Physiological Deficits

Published on: November 24, 2015

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The formative role of microglia in stress-induced synaptic deficits and associated behavioral consequences

J L Bollinger1, E S Wohleb1

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Neuroscience Letters
|August 19, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Psychological stress impacts microglia, the brain's immune cells, potentially leading to depression. Understanding these microglia-neuron interactions is key to developing new treatments for depressive disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Psychological stress is a known risk factor for depression.
  • Microglia, the central nervous system's immune cells, play vital roles in neuronal homeostasis and synaptic plasticity.
  • Emerging evidence links stress-induced microglial dysfunction to depressive behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review preclinical and clinical findings on microglia-neuron interactions in stress-induced depression.
  • To examine pathways involved in microglia-mediated neuronal remodeling.
  • To highlight sex differences in microglial responses to stress.

Main Methods:

  • Review of preclinical studies and clinical postmortem findings.
  • Focus on specific molecular pathways: CSF1-CSF1R, CX3CL1-CX3CR1, CD11b (CR3)-C3, and purinergic signaling (P2RX7, P2RY12).

Main Results:

  • Microglia-neuron interactions are implicated in stress-induced synaptic deficits and associated behavioral/cognitive consequences.
  • Specific signaling pathways mediate microglia's role in neuronal remodeling under stress.
  • Significant sex differences exist in how stress affects microglia.

Conclusions:

  • Microglial dysfunction is a critical mechanism linking stress to depression.
  • Targeting microglia-neuron interactions offers a promising therapeutic strategy for depressive disorders.
  • Considering sex differences in microglial responses is essential for developing effective, personalized treatments.
Keywords:
DepressionMicrogliaNeuroimmunePrefrontal cortexSex differenceStressSynapse

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