Prefrontal excitatory/inhibitory balance in stress and emotional disorders: Evidence for over-inhibition

NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS

卷:105

Review

Page, Chloe E.¹  Coutellier, Laurence^1,2 

[1] Ohio State Univ, Dept Neurosci, Columbus, OH 43210 USA

[2] Ohio State Univ, Dept Psychol, Columbus, OH USA

关键词: Stress;    Anxiety;    Depression;    Prefrontal cortex;    GABA;    Glutamate;    Parvalbumin;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.07.024

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Chronic stress-induced emotional disorders like anxiety and depression involve imbalances between the excitatory glutamatergic system and the inhibitory GABAergic system in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). However, the precise nature and trajectory of excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) imbalances in these conditions is not clear, with the literature reporting glutamatergic and GABAergic findings that are at times contradictory and inconclusive. Here we propose and discuss the hypothesis that chronic stress-induced emotional dysfunction involves hypoactivity of the PFC due to increased inhibition. We will also discuss E/I imbalances in the context of sex differences. In this review, we will synthesize research about how glutamatergic and GABAergic systems are perturbed by chronic stress and in related emotional disorders like anxiety and depression and propose ideas for reconciling contradictory findings in support of the hypothesis of over-inhibition. We will also discuss evidence for how aspects of the GABAergic system such as parvalbumin (PV) cells can be targeted therapeutically for reinstating activity and plasticity in the PFC and treating stress-related disorders.

【 授权许可】

Free