Stress-induced impairment in fear discrimination is causally related to increased kynurenic acid formation in the prefrontal cortex.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Stress is related to cognitive impairments which are observed in most major brain diseases. Prior studies showed that the brain concentration of the tryptophan metabolite kynurenic acid (KYNA) is modulated by stress, and that changes in cerebral KYNA levels impact cognition. However, the link between these phenomena has not been tested directly so far.

Objectives

To investigate a possible causal relationship between acute stress, KYNA, and fear discrimination.

Methods

Adult rats were exposed to one of three acute stressors-predator odor, restraint, or inescapable foot shocks (ISS)-and KYNA in the prefrontal cortex was measured using microdialysis. Corticosterone was analyzed in a subset of rats. Another cohort underwent a fear discrimination procedure immedi

SUBMITTER: Klausing AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7308198 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature