Excitatory transmission at thalamo-striatal synapses mediates susceptibility to social stress.

ABSTRACT: Postsynaptic remodeling of glutamatergic synapses on ventral striatum (vSTR) medium spiny neurons (MSNs) is critical for shaping stress responses. However, it is unclear which presynaptic inputs are involved. Susceptible mice exhibited increased synaptic strength at intralaminar thalamus (ILT), but not prefrontal cortex (PFC), inputs to vSTR MSNs following chronic social stress. Modulation of ILT-vSTR versus PFC-vSTR neuronal activity differentially regulated dendritic spine plasticity and social avoidance.

SUBMITTER: Christoffel DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4482771 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature