Chronic mild stress alters synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens through GSK3β-dependent modulation of Kv4.2 channels

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1917423117
• Publication Date: 2020-03-24T22:45:16Z
• Authors: Giuseppe Aceto; Claudia Colussi; Lucia Leone; Salvatore Fusco; Marco Rinaudo; Federico Scala; Thomas A. Green; Fernanda Laezza; Marcello D’Ascenzo; Claudio Grassi
• Keywords: GSK3B; Medium spiny neuron

Significance GSK3β is a serine/threonine kinase highly expressed in the brain that regulates several ion channels and receptors. Our study uncovers increased levels of active nucleus accumbens (NAc) mice with depressive-like phenotype induced by chronic stress. We clarify within NAc these lead to altered synaptic plasticity through phosphorylation Kv4.2 subunit, molecular determinant A-type K + currents. Moreover, selective silencing prevents maladaptive depression-related behavior, paving way consider GSK3β–Kv4.2 axis as strategy manage negative impact