Stress-Induced Dysregulation of the Guidance Cue Receptor DCC Alters Corticolimbic Circuit Architecture.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Elevated expression of the guidance cue receptor gene DCC in the adult prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a hallmark of major depressive disorder. DCC receptors regulate neuronal connectivity and plasticity in adulthood. In male mice, Dcc knockout in the PFC promotes resilience to behavioral dysregulation following chronic social defeat stress (CSDS), whereas Dcc upregulation increases susceptibility. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

Methods

We combined CSDS, behavioral tests (i.e., social interaction, nestlet shredding, and dark-light tests), retrograde neuronal tracing, and quantitative neuroanatomical analysis in adult male mice (N = 90) to investigate whether DCC receptors contribute to stress susceptibility/resil

SUBMITTER: Mahmud A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12681729 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature