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Prefrontal Cortex Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Neurons Control Behavioral Style Selection under Challenging
Peng Chen1, Shihao Lou1, Zhao-Huan Huang1
1Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
Neuron
|February 27, 2020
Summary
This study reveals that medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) interneurons bidirectionally control behavioral responses to stress. Modulating these neurons impacts stress resilience and motivated behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Biology
- Stress Research
Background:
- Behavioral styles in response to stressors are crucial for survival and influence susceptibility to stress-related disorders.
- The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) are implicated in stress responses, but the function of mPFC CRF neurons remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of mPFC CRF neurons in behavioral adaptation to stress.
- To characterize the functional properties of mPFC CRF neurons.
Main Methods:
- Morphological, electrophysiological, and calcium imaging techniques were employed.
- Genetic manipulation (ablation, chemogenetics) and behavioral assays (tail suspension, forced swimming, social defeat) were used to assess neuronal function.
Main Results:
- mPFC CRF neurons were identified as a unique subtype of GABAergic inhibitory interneurons.
- Inhibition of dorsal mPFC (dmPFC) CRF neurons increased immobility and social avoidance.
- Activation of dmPFC CRF neurons produced opposing effects, enhancing resilience to social defeat stress.
Conclusions:
- mPFC CRF interneurons play a critical role in regulating behavioral strategies under stress.
- These neurons bidirectionally control motivated behavioral style selection in response to stressors.
- Targeting mPFC CRF neurons may offer therapeutic potential for stress-related disorders.
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