Nucleus Accumbens Tac1-Expressing Neurons Mediate Stress-Induced Anhedonia-like Behavior in Mice
Zi-Xuan He,
Yue-Yue Yin,
Ke Xi,
Zhen-Kai Xing,
Jian-Bo Cao,
Ting-Yu Liu,
Lin Liu,
Xiao-Xiao He,
Hua-Li Yu,
Xiao-Juan Zhu
Affiliations
Zi-Xuan He
Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics, Ministry of Education, Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130021, China
Yue-Yue Yin
Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics, Ministry of Education, Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130021, China
Ke Xi
Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics, Ministry of Education, Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130021, China
Zhen-Kai Xing
Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics, Ministry of Education, Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130021, China
Jian-Bo Cao
Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics, Ministry of Education, Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130021, China
Ting-Yu Liu
Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics, Ministry of Education, Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130021, China
Lin Liu
Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics, Ministry of Education, Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130021, China
Xiao-Xiao He
Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics, Ministry of Education, Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130021, China
Hua-Li Yu
Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics, Ministry of Education, Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130021, China
Xiao-Juan Zhu
Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics, Ministry of Education, Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130021, China; Corresponding author
Summary: Major depressive disorder (MDD) presents with two primary symptoms: depressed mood and anhedonia, which suggests that distinct neuronal circuits may regulate MDD. However, the underlying circuits of these individual symptoms linked to depression remain elusive. Herein, we identify a discrete circuit of tachykinin precursor 1 (Tac1)-expressing neurons in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) lateral shell, which project to ventral pallidum and contribute to stress-induced anhedonia-like behavior. Selective inhibition and activation of Tac1NAc neurons bidirectionally modulate stress susceptibility, revealing that Tac1 neurons in the NAc are critical for regulating anhedonia-like behaviors. We find that a subpopulation of VP neurons receives inhibitory inputs from Tac1NAc neurons and exhibits decreased excitability in susceptible mice. Furthermore, the inhibition of the neurokinin 1 receptor promotes susceptibility to social stress. Overall, our study reveals a discrete circuit regulating anhedonia-like behavior in mice.
