Functional Anatomy of Limbic-Neuroendocrine Circuits

University Of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH

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Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Stress is a major determinant of onset and susceptibility to affective diseases, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders and depression. Chronic stress exposure leads to frank changes in glucocorticoid homeostasis, which in turn has major impact on emotional state and decision-making. Studies focused on defining brain mechanisms of stress-related disease have defined a link between physical/ behavioral manifestations of stress pathology and medial prefrontal cortex dysfunction. Importantly, chronic stress leads to hypofunction of prefrontal cortex circuits that mediate successful downstream processing of emotional information. In turn, reduced prefrontal output contributes to increased fear and anxiety seen in diseases such as PTSD. Using rodent stress models, studies during our last funding period indicate that loss of prefrontal function during chronic stress may be linked to enhanced inhibition of prefrontal projection neurons. Functional and morphological studies further suggest that reduced prefrontal output is associated with loss of prefrontal glucocorticoid receptor signaling, impairing the ability of the prefrontal cortex to respond appropriately in the context of stress. This proposal seeks to understand the mechanism underlying stress- induced prefrontal dysfunction, testing the overarching hypothesis that chronic stress attenuates glucocorticoid-mediated inhibition of cortical interneurons, essentially silencing prefrontal cortex projection neurons that normally promote stress adaptation and behavioral flexibility. Aim 1 uses lentiviral overexpression and cell type-specific knock-down strategies to test the requirement of the prefrontal glucocorticoid receptor for appropriate behavioral and physiologic responses to chronic stress. Given the lasting impact of stress on emotional behavior in humans, we will assess both immediate and persistent effects of chronic stress. Aim 2 uses physiological and anatomical methods to assess mechanisms whereby chronic stress enhances inhibitory drive onto primary prefrontal output neuron. Finally, Aim 3 uses an anterograde lentiviral tracing strategy to assess the impact of stress on down-stream targets of prefrontal cortex neurons in the amygdala. Given the link between the prefrontal cortex and stress-related disease, understanding the mechanism of stress-induced prefrontal dysfunction is of major significance for future treatment options, either invasive (deep brain stimulation, gene therapy) or pharmacological (GR targeting).