Synaptic potentiation onto habenula neurons in the learned helplessness model of depression

Bo Li (), Joaquin Piriz, Martine Mirrione, ChiHye Chung, Christophe D. Proulx, Daniela Schulz, Fritz Henn and Roberto Malinow ()
Additional contact information
Bo Li: Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, 9500 Gilman Drive # 0634, University of California at San Diego
Joaquin Piriz: Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, 9500 Gilman Drive # 0634, University of California at San Diego
Martine Mirrione: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road
ChiHye Chung: Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, 9500 Gilman Drive # 0634, University of California at San Diego
Christophe D. Proulx: Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, 9500 Gilman Drive # 0634, University of California at San Diego
Daniela Schulz: Brookhaven National Laboratory
Fritz Henn: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road
Roberto Malinow: Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, 9500 Gilman Drive # 0634, University of California at San Diego

Nature, 2011, vol. 470, issue 7335, 535-539

Abstract: Synaptic potentiation in depression It has recently been shown that neurons in the lateral habenula (LHb), a nucleus that projects to midbrain reward areas, can signal negative reward or 'disappointment' by modulating a dopaminergic centre, and may be disrupted in depressive disorders. Experiments in rats exhibiting learned helplessness (a model of major depression) now show that excitatory synapses onto LHb neurons are potentiated, and that this correlates with helplessness behaviour. Depleting transmitter release by repeated electrical stimulation of the LHb using a protocol similar to deep brain stimulation rescues both synaptic changes and learned helplessness behaviour. These results point to a mechanism by which deep brain stimulation in LHb could be effective in treating depression.

Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1038/nature09742

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