Cited by 1,574Stress Responses and CortisolMemory and Neural MechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Stress Effects on Neuronal Structure: Hippocampus, Amygdala, and Prefrontal Cortex

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McEwen, Bruce S, Nasca, Carla, Gray, Jason D·2016·Neuropsychopharmacology

Abstract

The hippocampus provided the gateway into much of what we have learned about stress and brain structural and functional plasticity, and this initial focus has expanded to other interconnected brain regions, such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Starting with the discovery of adrenal steroid, and later, estrogen receptors in the hippocampal formation, and subsequent discovery of dendritic and spine synapse remodeling and neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus, mechanistic studies have revealed both genomic and rapid non-genomic actions of circulating steroid hormones in the brain. Many of these actions occur epigenetically and result in ever-changing patterns of gene expression, in which there are important sex differences that need further exploration. Moreover, glucocorticoid and estrogen actions occur synergistically with an increasing number of cellular mediators that help determine the qualitative nature of the response. The hippocampus has also been a gateway to understanding lasting epigenetic effects of early-life experiences. These findings in animal models have resulted in translation to the human brain and have helped change thinking about the nature of brain malfunction in psychiatric disorders and during aging, as well as the mechanisms of the effects of early-life adversity on the brain and the body.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/npp.2015.171

Cites

215 of 215 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Chronically elevated glucocorticoid levels induce remodeling of hippocampus, amygdala, and mPFC.

    “Chronically elevated glucocorticoid levels, in turn, are known to induce remodeling of the hippocampus, amygdala, and mPFC [71]”

    From Trauma, PTSD, and the Developing Brain (2017) · cites this paper as [71]

    The Neural Structural Remodeling section (page unavailable) says much of the described remodeling is mediated through glucocorticoid-receptor-dependent gene expression. The Traumatic Stress Effects section links elevated corticosterone to amygdala dendritic changes, but its direct corticosterone example uses a single bolus. These passages support a role for glucocorticoids in remodeling, not the broader assertion that chronically elevated levels themselves induce remodeling in all three named regions. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Changes in the structure and function of neurons may occur under chronic stress and lead to the occurrence of MDD.

    “It has been proved that the changes in the structure and function of neurons may occur under the chronic stress and lead to the occurrence of MDD. 37 , 38”

    From Major depressive disorder: hypothesis, mechanism, prevention and treatment (2024) · cites this paper as [37]

    The Neural Structural Remodeling and PFC sections report that chronic stress changes neuronal structure, and the Translation to the Human Hippocampus section says depression may persist when resilience is lacking. The paper does not establish that those neuronal changes cause the onset of major depressive disorder; it describes stress-related remodeling as largely reversible and often adaptive. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • Findings in mood disorders reveal alterations at the levels of intracellular signaling, gene expression, neurotrophic factors, neurogenesis, neuroinflammation, excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, and synaptic number and function in several brain regions implicated in depression.

    “These findings reveal alterations at the levels of intracellular signaling, gene expression, neurotrophic factors, neurogenesis, neuroinflammation, excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, and synaptic number and function, and have been described in several brain regions implicated in depression 13-22 .”

    From Neuroplasticity in cognitive and psychological mechanisms of depression: an integrative model (2020) · cites this paper as [18]

    The sections on hippocampal involvement in mood disorders and identification of new gene candidates discuss neurogenesis, neurotrophic factors, gene expression, inflammatory signaling, and synaptic remodeling in relation to stress or depression; Future Directions also describes intracellular signaling changes. The copy does not establish the full list as findings in mood disorders across several depression-related regions: its discussion of excitatory–inhibitory balance, for example, concerns plasticity more generally. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Exaggerated fear is a core symptom of clinical anxiety and fear responding is closely linked to stress.

    “Exaggerated fear is a core symptom of clinical anxiety and fear responding is closely linked to stress (Maren and Holmes, 2016;McEwen et al., 2016;Raio and Phelps, 2015), which (as described in Sections VI.G. and VII.H.) is tightly intertwined with gut-brain axis function.”

    From The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis (2019) · cites this paper as McEwen et al., 2016

    The sections on structural remodeling in the amygdala and traumatic stress effects link stress to increased anxiety and altered fear conditioning. The human-amygdala section discusses chronic anxiety disorders, but the available passages do not say that exaggerated fear is a core symptom of clinical anxiety. Page numbers were not supplied. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Accompanying behavioral changes in chronic stress models are marked physiological and structural alterations in the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex that are similar to those seen in major depressive disorder.

    “Accompanying these behavioral changes are marked physiological and structural alterations, not only in the amygdala and hippocampus but, importantly, the PFC [98,99], that are similar to those seen in MDD.”

    From Prefrontal cortex and depression (2022) · cites this paper as [99]

    The section on sex differences after puberty reports depressive-like behavior alongside chronic-stress-induced remodeling of the hippocampus, PFC, and amygdala; the PFC section also describes structural remodeling after chronic stress. The copy discusses findings in depressed people for the hippocampus, but the passages do not establish that the alterations across all three regions are similar to those seen in MDD. Page numbers were not available in the indexed passages. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

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3 of the 218 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. [89]89. REVIEW ................................................................................................................................................... Neuropsychopharmacology REVIEWS
  2. [132]132. McEwen BS, Lasley EN (2005). The End of Sex as We Know It In Cerebrum. The Dana Forum on Brain Science. Dana Press. http://www.dana.org/Cerebrum/ 2005/The_End_of_Sex_as_We_Know_It/.
  3. [146]146. REVIEW ................................................................................................................................................... Neuropsychopharmacology REVIEWS
  4. [201]201. REVIEW ...................................................................................................................................................

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Authors
McEwen, B. S., Nasca, C., & Gray, J. D.
Affiliations
Rockefeller University (US)
Venue
Neuropsychopharmacology
Published
2015-06-16
Volume
41
Issue
1
Pages
3-23
ISSN
  • 0893-133X (ISSN-L)
  • 1740-634X
OpenAlex
W756325778
Cited by
1,574
References
218
Citations by year
2026: 185 · 2025: 223 · 2024: 172 · 2023: 158 · 2022: 165 · 2021: 181 · 2020: 152 · 2019: 126 · 2018: 104 · 2017: 61 · 2016: 40 · 2015: 6
FWCI
5.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuropsychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
  • Hope for Depression Research Foundation
  • National Institutes of Health (MH41256)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH41256, F32MH102065, R01MH041256)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
stress, hippocampus, amygdala, prefrontal cortex, neuroplasticity, dendritic remodeling, synaptic remodeling, dentate gyrus neurogenesis, glucocorticoids, estrogen receptor, non-genomic steroid action, epigenetics, sex differences, childhood adversity, early life experience, mental illness, brain aging
MeSH terms
Amygdala, Animals, Hippocampus, Humans, Nerve Net, Neuronal Plasticity, Neurons, Stress, Psychological, Prefrontal Cortex

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