Cited by 167Stress Responses and CortisolNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorResilience and Mental Health

Neuroanatomic differences associated with stress susceptibility and resilience

Open access
Anacker, Christoph, Scholz, Jan, O’Donnell, Kieran J., Allemang-Grand, Rylan, Diorio, Josie, Bagot, Rosemary C., Nestler, Eric J., Hen, René +2 more·2016·Biological Psychiatry

Abstract

Background We examined the neurobiological mechanisms underlying stress susceptibility using structural magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging to determine neuroanatomic differences between stress-susceptible and resilient mice. We also examined synchronized anatomic differences between brain regions to gain insight into the plasticity of neural networks underlying stress susceptibility.Methods C57BL/6 mice underwent 10 days of social defeat stress and were subsequently tested for social avoidance. For magnetic resonance imaging, brains of stressed (susceptible, n = 11; resilient, n = 8) and control (n = 12) mice were imaged ex vivo at 56 µm resolution using a T2-weighted sequence. We tested for behavior-structure correlations by regressing social avoidance z-scores against local brain volume. For diffusion tensor imaging, brains were scanned with a diffusion-weighted fast spin echo sequence at 78 μm isotropic voxels. Structural covariance was assessed by correlating local volume between brain regions.Results Social avoidance correlated negatively with local volume of the cingulate cortex, nucleus accumbens, thalamus, raphe nuclei, and bed nucleus of the stria terminals. Social avoidance correlated positively with volume of the ventral tegmental area (VTA), habenula, periaqueductal gray, cerebellum, hypothalamus, and hippocampal CA3. Fractional anisotropy was increased in the hypothalamus and hippocampal CA3. We observed synchronized anatomic differences between the VTA and cingulate cortex, hippocampus and VTA, hippocampus and cingulate cortex, and hippocampus and hypothalamus. These correlations revealed different structural covariance between brain regions in susceptible and resilient mice.Conclusions Stress-integrative brain regions shape the neural architecture underlying individual differences in susceptibility and resilience to chronic stress.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.08.009

Cites

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Claims the paper makes

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  • Findingown data

    In chronically stressed mice, social avoidance z score was negatively correlated with peak voxel volume in the cingulate cortex (r = −.79, p < .001).

    “In addition, we found a significant negative correlation between social avoidance scores and peak voxel volumes of the cingulate cortex (r = −.79, p < .001) (Figure 2B), suggesting that the cingulate cortex is smaller in stress-susceptible mice.”
    • Also stated in: § DISCUSSION · plain
      “Our structural analysis revealed that gray matter volume of the VTA increased as a function of social avoidance, whereas cingulate cortex and NAc volumes declined with increasing social avoidance.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    In chronically stressed mice, social avoidance z score was positively correlated with peak voxel volume in the ventral tegmental area (r = .69, p < .001).

    “Social avoidance scores correlated positively with VTA peak voxel volume (r = .69, p < .001) (Figure 2A), supporting a role of the VTA in promoting stress susceptibility.”
    • Also stated in: § DISCUSSION · plain
      “Our structural analysis revealed that gray matter volume of the VTA increased as a function of social avoidance, whereas cingulate cortex and NAc volumes declined with increasing social avoidance.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    In control mice, hippocampus and cingulate cortex volumes were positively correlated (r = .6, p = .001).

    “In control mice (n = 12), we observed correlations only between the hippocampus and hypothalamus (r = .57, p = .04) (Supplemental Figure S6C) and between the hippocampus and cingulate cortex (r = .6, p = .001) (Supplemental Figure S6E), but not between any of the other brain regions analyzed (Supplemental Figure S6).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Hippocampal volume was positively correlated with VTA volume (r = .64, p = .003).

    “Hippocampal volume is positively correlated with VTA volume (r = .64, p = .003) (Figure 4D) and negatively correlated with cingulate cortex volume (r = −.68, p = .001) (Figure 4E), suggesting an interaction of the hippocampus with the VTA and medial PFC (4).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    In the VTA, NAc, and cingulate cortex, fractional anisotropy correlated with behavioral z scores in the opposite direction from anatomic volume.

    “Our DTI analysis revealed that FA correlated with behavioral z scores in opposite directions than anatomic volume in the VTA, NAc, and cingulate cortex.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 12
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 14
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    Findingown data

    In the study's mice, hippocampal volume correlated positively with VTA volume and negatively with cingulate cortex and NAc volume.

    “We also found that hippocampal volume is positively correlated with VTA volume and negatively correlated with cingulate cortex and NAc volume”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Atlas-based group-level analysis confirmed larger hippocampal volume and smaller BNST and corpus callosum volume in susceptible mice.

    “This additional analysis confirmed larger hippocampal volume and smaller volume of the BNST and corpus callosum in susceptible mice.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
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    Interpretationown data

    In susceptible mice, smaller cingulate cortex volume predicted larger VTA volume, while in resilient mice larger cingulate cortex volume predicted smaller VTA volume.

    “In susceptible mice, smaller cingulate cortex volume predicts larger VTA volume; in resilient mice, larger cingulate cortex volume predicts smaller VTA volume.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Previous studies have shown smaller hippocampi in depressed patients and hippocampal atrophy following stress.

    “Although increased hypothalamic volume supports the notion that HPA axis hyperactivity is associated with susceptibility to chronic stress, increased hippocampal volume may appear contrary to previous studies, which have shown smaller hippocampi in depressed patients (48,49) and hippocampal atrophy following stress (8,31,50–52).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 7 sources checked
    • cites [48] MacQueen, 2003, Course of illness, hippocampal function, and hippocampal volume in major depression, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [49] Sheline, 1996, Hippocampal atrophy in major depression: A result of depression-induced neurotoxicity?, Mol Psychiatry

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    • cites [8] Watanabe, 1992, Stress induces atrophy of apical dendrites of hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons, Brain Res source

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    Premisecitation

    The hippocampus regulates neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to stress.

    “The hippocampus regulates neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to stress (13,14).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [13] Anacker, 2014, Early life adversity and the epigenetic programming of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function

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    • cites [14] Anacker, 2011, The glucocorticoid receptor: Pivot of depression and of antidepressant treatment?, Psychoneuroendocrinology source

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    Premisecitation

    Social defeat-induced anxiety and depressive-like behaviors were previously associated with decreased neuronal activity in the medial PFC and increased VTA and amygdala activity.

    “Social defeat–induced anxiety and depressive-like behaviors were previously associated with decreased neuronal activity in the medial PFC (46) as well as increased VTA and amygdala activity (10–12).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [46] Vialou, 2014, Prefrontal cortical circuit for depression- and anxiety-related behaviors mediated by cholecystokinin: Role of ΔFosB, J Neurosci source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [10] Krishnan, 2007, Molecular adaptations underlying susceptibility and resistance to social defeat in brain reward regions, Cell source

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    • cites [11] Narayanan, 2011, Social defeat: Impact on fear extinction and amygdala-prefrontal cortical theta synchrony in 5-HTT deficient mice, PLoS One source

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    • cites [12] Fekete, 2009, Social defeat stress activates medial amygdala cells that express type 2 corticotropin-releasing factor receptor mRNA, Neuroscience source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Phasic firing of dopaminergic neurons from the VTA to the NAc promotes susceptibility, whereas firing from the VTA to the medial PFC promotes resilience.

    “In particular, phasic firing of dopaminergic neurons from the VTA to the NAc promotes susceptibility, whereas firing of dopaminergic neurons from the VTA to the medial PFC promotes resilience (4).”
    • Also stated in: § DISCUSSION · plain
      “At the functional level, previous studies showed that dopaminergic connections from the VTA to the medial PFC promote resilience to social defeat, whereas connections from the VTA to the NAc promote susceptibility (4,47).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [4] Chaudhury, 2013, Rapid regulation of depression-related behaviours by control of midbrain dopamine neurons, Nature source

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    • cites [47] Walsh, 2014, Stress and CRF gate neural activation of BDNF in the mesolimbic reward pathway, Nat Neurosci source

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    Interpretationcitation

    Stress-induced alterations may result from elevated glucocorticoid levels and differences in glucocorticoid release or sensitivity between susceptible and resilient mice.

    “Such stress-induced alterations may result from elevated glucocorticoid levels and potential differences in glucocorticoid release or differences in sensitivity to glucocorticoids between susceptible and resilient mice (55).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [55] Hare, 2014, Exercise-associated changes in the corticosterone response to acute restraint stress: Evidence for increased adrenal sensitivity and reduced corticosterone response duration, Neuropsychopharmacology source

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    Premisecitation

    Men with larger hippocampi show a greater cortisol awakening response and increased cortisol release in response to social stress.

    “Moreover, men with larger hippocampi show a greater cortisol awakening response and increased cortisol release in response to social stress (54), suggesting that larger hippocampal volume may be associated with greater stress reactivity and HPA axis hyperactivity.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [54] Pruessner, 2007, The associations among hippocampal volume, cortisol reactivity, and memory performance in healthy young men, Psychiatry Res source

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    Study design and conductown data

    The search region was restricted to preselected regions of interest, and clusters with an extent of 273 voxels at |t| > 2.57 survived multiple comparisons at p < .05.

    “The search region was restricted to the preselected regions of interest (volume, 90.91 mm3; 517,639 voxels), and a cluster-forming threshold of p < .01 was chosen. Resulting clusters with an extent of 273 voxels at a |t| > 2.57 survived multiple comparisons at p < .05.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
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    Study design and conductcitation

    Cluster thresholding from random field theory was used to control for multiple comparisons.

    “Cluster thresholding from random field theory (24) was used to control for multiple comparisons.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [24] Worsley, 1996, A unified statistical approach for determining significant signals in images of cerebral activation, Hum Brain Mapp source

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    Premisecitation

    Hippocampal functional connections activate VTA neurons.

    “Although functional connections from the hippocampus activate VTA neurons (57)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [57] Lisman, 2005, The hippocampal-VTA loop: Controlling the entry of information into long-term memory, Neuron source

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    Premisecitation

    The raphe nuclei play a critical role in regulating serotoninergic tone.

    “which are critically involved in regulating serotoninergic tone (40,41)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [40] Hornung, 2003, The human raphe nuclei and the serotonergic system, J Chem Neuroanat source

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    • cites [41] Pollak Dorocic, 2014, A whole-brain atlas of inputs to serotonergic neurons of the dorsal and median raphe nuclei, Neuron source

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    Premisecitation

    Prior studies indicate that FA can predict cell number and tissue density, and that higher FA may reflect greater tissue integrity.

    “Some studies showed that FA can predict cell number and tissue density (60,61) and that higher FA could indicate greater tissue integrity.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [60] Beppu, 2005, Fractional anisotropy value by diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging as a predictor of cell density and proliferation activity of glioblastomas, Surg Neurol source

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    • cites [61] Kinoshita, 2008, Fractional anisotropy and tumor cell density of the tumor core show positive correlation in diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging of malignant brain tumors, Neuroimage source

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    Interpretationown data

    The data suggest that local brain volume can be linked to either more or less restricted diffusion through underlying tissue, potentially indicating higher or lower tissue integrity.

    “These data suggest that local brain volume can be associated with either more or less restricted diffusion through the underlying tissue, potentially indicating higher or lower tissue integrity, respectively.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
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    Interpretationcitation

    Reduced raphe volume may alter serotonin signaling across the brain, contributing to stress reactivity and depressive-like behavior.

    “Reduced raphe volume may affect serotonin signaling throughout the brain, contributing to stress reactivity and to the development of depressive-like behavior (58).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [58] Richardson-Jones, 2010, 5-HT1A autoreceptor levels determine vulnerability to stress and response to antidepressants, Neuron source

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    Interpretationreasoning

    Longitudinal in vivo imaging at baseline and after stress may be a powerful translational method for detecting interindividual brain-region variations that may mark susceptible and resilient individuals before stress onset.

    “In addition to our findings, in vivo longitudinal imaging at baseline and after stress may be a powerful method of translational relevance to detect interindividual variations in brain regions that may characterize susceptible and resilient individuals before stress onset.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The mouse social defeat model and its behavioral measures are valid for inferring human stress susceptibility, resilience, and depression risk.
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Changes in the cellular organization of a brain region can result from molecular processes that follow neuronal activity.

    “Although changes in the cellular organization of a specific brain region can result from the molecular processes after neuronal activity (65,68)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [65] Evans, 2013, Networks of anatomical covariance, Neuroimage source

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    • cites [68] Demerens, 1996, Induction of myelination in the central nervous system by electrical activity, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A source

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    Interpretationnone given

    New measures of stress susceptibility and resilience in the mouse brain would permit testing novel interventions, including psychiatric drugs, for their effects on local brain volume in vivo.

    “In conclusion, new measures of stress susceptibility and resilience in the mouse brain would allow the testing of novel interventions, including psychiatric drugs, for their effects on local brain volume in vivo.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The mouse social defeat model and its behavioral measures are valid for inferring human stress susceptibility, resilience, and depression risk.
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Identifying neuroanatomic differences that predispose individuals to depression after chronic stress may help target stress-preventive measures to reduce the burden of mental illness.

    “Identifying neuroanatomic differences that predispose individuals to developing depression after chronic stress may help target stress-preventive measures to alleviate the burden of mental illness.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The mouse social defeat model and its behavioral measures are valid for inferring human stress susceptibility, resilience, and depression risk.
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    This hypothesis is consistent with increased FA in compressed brain tissue after hematoma.

    “This hypothesis agrees with an increased FA in compressed brain tissue after hematoma (64).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [64] Osuka, 2012, Elevated diffusion anisotropy in gray matter and the degree of brain compression, J Neurosurg source

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    Interpretationreasoning

    An overall volume change is likely to increase anisotropy in anisotropic compartments if the structure resists that volume change along its dominant axis.

    “A change in overall volume is likely to increase anisotropy in anisotropic compartments if the structure itself resists the overall volume change along the dominant axis of the tissue anisotropy.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The findings may be an initial step toward clinical use, because MRI and DTI could potentially help inform a clinical diagnosis of depression risk from neuroanatomic abnormalities in patients seeking psychiatric services.

    “Our findings may be a first step toward clinical application, as MRI and DTI could potentially be used as biomedical tools to inform a clinical diagnosis of depression risk based on neuroanatomic abnormalities in patients seeking psychiatric services.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The mouse social defeat model and its behavioral measures are valid for inferring human stress susceptibility, resilience, and depression risk.
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  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Glutamatergic hippocampal outputs activate GABAergic inhibitory neurons of subcortical relay areas, including the BNST, which consequently inhibit neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus.

    “Glutamatergic hippocampal outputs generally activate GABAergic inhibitory neurons of subcortical relay areas, including the BNST, which consequently inhibit neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The mouse social defeat model and its behavioral measures are valid for inferring human stress susceptibility, resilience, and depression risk.

    “Our findings may be a first step toward clinical application, as MRI and DTI could potentially be used as biomedical tools to inform a clinical diagnosis of depression risk based on neuroanatomic abnormalities in patients seeking psychiatric services.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The z score measure of social avoidance is a valid and important behavioral measure for distinguishing susceptible and resilient individuals.

    “indicating the importance of the z score measure of behavior for differentiating between individuals.”
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  • Discussion cites the wrong figure for hippocampus-hypothalamus covariance

    Minor

    The discussion points to Figure 3 for the group clustering in the hippocampus-hypothalamus correlation, but the results identify that correlation and clustering as Figure 4C.

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Authors
Anacker, C., Scholz, J., O’Donnell, K. J., Allemang-Grand, R., Diorio, J., Bagot, R. C., Nestler, E. J., Hen, R., Lerch, J. P., & Meaney, M. J.
Affiliations
  • Douglas Mental Health University Institute (CA)
  • University of Toronto (CA)
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
  • Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene (US)
Corresponding author
Meaney, Michael J.
Venue
Biological Psychiatry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-05
Volume
79
Issue
10
Pages
840-849
ISSN
0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1197974428
Cited by
167
References
72
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 1
FWCI
7.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Hope for Depression Research Foundation
  • Ontario Brain Institute
  • German Research Foundation
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
Keywords
stress vulnerability, resilience, chronic stress, social defeat stress, social avoidance, hippocampal CA3, ventral tegmental area, cingulate cortex, hypothalamus, fractional anisotropy, individual differences, neural network plasticity, habenula, periaqueductal gray
MeSH terms
Animals, Avoidance Learning, Brain, Disease Susceptibility, Dominance-Subordination, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Neural Pathways, Organ Size, Stress, Psychological, Resilience, Psychological, Diffusion Tensor Imaging

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