Chronic stress induces significant gene expression changes in the prefrontal cortex alongside alterations in adult hippocampal neurogenesis

• DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa153
• Publication Date: 2020-09-26T16:34:49Z
• Authors: Ksenia Musaelyan; Selin Yildizoglu; James Bozeman; Andrea Du Preez; Martin Egeland; Patricia A Zunszain; Carmine M Pariante; Cathy Fernandes; Sandrine Thuret
• Keywords: Chronic Stress

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is involved in stress-related disorders such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorders, well the mechanism of antidepressant effects. However, molecular mechanisms these associations remain to be fully explored. In this study, unpredictable chronic mild mice resulted a deficit neuronal dendritic tree development and neuroblast migration neurogenic niche. To investigate pathways underlying alteration, genome-wide gene expression changes were assessed prefrontal cortex, hippocampus hypothalamus alongside changes. Cluster analysis showed that transcriptomic signature much more prominent cortex compared hypothalamus. Pathway analyses suggested huntingtin, leptin, myelin regulatory factor, methyl-CpG binding protein brain-derived neurotrophic factor top predicted upstream regulators cortex. Involvement satiety regulating (leptin) was corroborated by behavioural data showing increased food reward motivation stressed mice. Behavioural also circadian rhythm disruption activation clock genes Period 2. Interestingly, most have been previously shown regulation adult neurogenesis. It possible indirectly affects differentiation niche via reciprocal connections between two brain areas.