A Visual Circuit Related to Habenula Underlies the Antidepressive Effects of Light Therapy

Publication date: Available online 19 February 2019Source: NeuronAuthor(s): Lu Huang, Yue Xi, Yanfang Peng, Yan Yang, Xiaodan Huang, Yunwei Fu, Qian Tao, Jia Xiao, Tifei Yuan, Kai An, Huan Zhao, Mingliang Pu, Fuqiang Xu, Tian Xue, Minmin Luo, Kwok-Fai So, Chaoran RenSummaryLight plays a pivotal role in the regulation of affective behaviors. However, the precise circuits that mediate the impact of light on depressive-like behaviors are not well understood. Here, we show that light influences depressive-like behaviors through a disynaptic circuit linking the retina and the lateral habenula (LHb). Specifically, M4-type melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) innervate GABA neurons in the thalamic ventral lateral geniculate nucleus and intergeniculate leaflet (vLGN/IGL), which in turn inhibit CaMKIIα neurons in the LHb. Specific activation of vLGN/IGL-projecting RGCs, activation of LHb-projecting vLGN/IGL neurons, or inhibition of postsynaptic LHb neurons is sufficient to decrease the depressive-like behaviors evoked by long-term exposure to aversive stimuli or chronic social defeat stress. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the antidepressive effects of light therapy require activation of the retina-vLGN/IGL-LHb pathway. These results reveal a dedicated retina-vLGN/IGL-LHb circuit that regulates depressive-like behaviors and provide a potential mechanistic explanation for light treatment of depression.Graphical Abstract
Source: Neuron - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research