The BDNF-TrkB Pathway Acts Through Nucleus Accumbens D2 Expressing Neurons to Mediate Stress Susceptible Outcomes

Marco Pagliusi, Daniela Franco, Shannon Cole, Gessynger Morais-Silva, Ramesh Chandra, Megan E. Fox, Sergio D. Iñiguez, Cesar R. Sartori, Mary Kay Lobo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has a critical role in stress response including neuropsychiatric disorders that are precipitated by stress, such as major depressive disorder (MDD). BDNF acts through its full-length BDNF receptor tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) to trigger a pro-plasticity effect. In contrast, the truncated isoform of the BDNF receptor (TrkB.t1) triggers an anti-plasticity effect. In stress outcomes, BDNF acting in the hippocampus has a stress resilience effect, and, inversely, in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), BDNF acts as a stress susceptible molecule. It is unknown if BDNF-TrkB acts on a specific NAc projection neuron, i.e., medium spiny neuron (MSN or spiny projection neuron), a subtype in stress outcomes. To determine this, we performed chronic social or vicarious witness defeat stress (CSDS or CWDS) in mice expressing TrkB.t1 in dopamine receptor 1 or 2 containing MSNs (D1- or D2-MSNs). Our results showed that TrkB.t1 overexpression in NAc D2-MSNs prevented the CSDS-induced social avoidance or other stress susceptible behaviors in male and female mice. We further showed that this overexpression in D2-MSNs blocked stress susceptible behavior induced by intra-NAc BDNF infusion. In contrast, our results demonstrate that overexpression of TrkB.t1 on NAc D1-MSNs facilitates the SDS susceptible behaviors. Our study provides enhanced details into the NAc cell subtype role of BDNF-TrkB signaling in stress outcomes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number854494
JournalFrontiers in Psychiatry
Volume13
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2 2022

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The BDNF-TrkB Pathway Acts Through Nucleus Accumbens D2 Expressing Neurons to Mediate Stress Susceptible Outcomes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this