Chronic Social Defeat Stress
Objective: To examine the role of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) activity in depression-like behavior using chronic social defeat stress as a mouse model of depression, and to assess whether optogenetic stimulation of mPFC produces antidepressant-like effects
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Equipment1
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Materials1
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Software1
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Protocol Steps
Chronic Social Defeat Stress Induction
Mice were subjected to chronic social defeat stress as a mouse model of depression
Note: This procedure resulted in some mice developing susceptible phenotype (strong depressive-like behavior) while others remained resilient
View evidence from paper
“mice after chronic social defeat stress, a mouse model of depression”
Viral Vector Administration
Viral vectors were used to overexpress channel rhodopsin 2 in the medial prefrontal cortex
Note: Expression was targeted to ventral portion of mPFC
View evidence from paper
“viral vectors to overexpress channel rhodopsin 2 (a light-activated cation channel) in mouse mPFC”
Optogenetic Stimulation
Light was used to activate channelrhodopsin 2 in mPFC to drive burst patterns of cortical firing in vivo
Note: Stimulation was applied to susceptible animals expressing strong depressive-like phenotype
View evidence from paper
“optogenetically drive burst patterns of cortical firing in vivo and examine the behavioral consequences”
Behavioral Assessment
Behavioral testing was conducted to assess antidepressant-like effects and other behavioral measures
Note: Testing included assessment of general locomotor activity, anxiety-like behaviors, and social memory
View evidence from paper
“optogenetic stimulation of mPFC exerted potent antidepressant-like effects, without affecting general locomotor activity, anxiety-like behaviors, or social memory”
Gene Expression Analysis
Examination of immediate early genes (IEGs) including zif268 (egr1), c-fos, and arc in the ventral mPFC
Note: Gene expression was compared between susceptible, resilient, and control mice
View evidence from paper
“examined these genes in the ventral portion of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of mice after chronic social defeat stress”