Maternal Separation induces changes in TREK-1 and 5HT1A expression in brain areas involved in the stress response in a sex-dependent way.

In this study, maternal separation (MS) was used to emulate early-life stress, and evaluate behaviour, as well as TREK-1 and 5HT1A expression in the brain using immunohistochemistry. In juvenile females, 5HT1A reduction coupled to increased TREK-1 in the dentate gyrus (DG) was associated with behavioural despair, as well as increased TREK-1 expression in basolateral amygdala (BLA) and prelimbic cortex (PL). In juvenile males, MS induced an increase in 5HT1A in the BLA, and in TREK-1 in the PL, while no behavioural despair. Anhedonia and anxiety-like behaviour were not induced by MS. We conclude stress-induced increase in TREK-1 in PL and GD is associated to depression, while 5HT1A changes coupled to TREK-1 changes may be necessary to induce depression, with females being more vulnerable to MS effects than males. TREK-1 and 5HT1A may be potential pharmacological targets for antidepressants development. PMID: 32949645 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Behavioural Brain Research - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Behav Brain Res Source Type: research