α2-containing γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors promote stress resiliency in male mice.

ABSTRACT: Brain α2-containing GABA_A receptors play a critical role in the modulation of anxiety- and fear-like behavior. However, it is unknown whether these receptors also play a role in modulating resilience to chronic stress, and in which brain areas and cell types such an effect would be mediated. We evaluated the role of α2-containing GABA_A receptors following chronic social defeat stress using male mice deficient in the α2 subunit globally or conditionally in dopamine D1- or D2-receptor-expressing neurons, e.g., within the nucleus accumbens (NAc). In addition, we examined the effect of the lack of the α2 subunit on intermediates of the glutathione synthesis pathway. We found that α2-containing GABA_A receptors on D2-receptor-positive but not on D1-receptor-posit

SUBMITTER: Benham RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8505491 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature