Cited by 1,393Stress Responses and CortisolNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

The stressed synapse: the impact of stress and glucocorticoids on glutamate transmission

Open access
Popoli, Maurizio, Yan, Zhen, McEwen, Bruce S., Sanacora, Gerard·2012·Nature Reviews Neuroscience

Abstract

Mounting evidence suggests that acute and chronic stress, especially the stress-induced release of glucocorticoids, induces changes in glutamate neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus, thereby influencing some aspects of cognitive processing. In addition, dysfunction of glutamatergic neurotransmission is increasingly considered to be a core feature of stress-related mental illnesses. Recent studies have shed light on the mechanisms by which stress and glucocorticoids affect glutamate transmission, including effects on glutamate release, glutamate receptors and glutamate clearance and metabolism. This new understanding provides insights into normal brain functioning, as well as the pathophysiology and potential new treatments of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nrn3138

Cites

232 of 232 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Somatostatin regulates ACTH secretion and loss of somatostatin-expressing interneurons increases glucocorticoid signaling and glutamate neurotransmission in the hippocampus.

    “Somatostatin regulates ACTH secretion and loss of somatostatin-expressing interneurons increases glucocorticoid signaling and glutamate neurotransmission in the hippocampus (147).”

    From Chronic stress, neuroinflammation, and depression: an overview of pathophysiological mechanisms and emerging anti-inflammatories (2023) · cites this paper as [147]

    The Introduction and the section on acute stress and glutamate release report that glucocorticoids can increase glutamate release in the hippocampus. The paper does not support the attributed link to loss of somatostatin-expressing interneurons, or the statement that somatostatin regulates ACTH secretion (searched: somatostatin, ACTH secretion, interneuron loss). (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Traumatic stress causes trophic changes and synaptogenesis in the amygdala.

    “The research conducted by Popoli et al. (2011) showed that traumatic stress causes trophic changes and synaptogenesis in the amygdala.”

    From Neuroimaging research in posttraumatic stress disorder – Focus on amygdala, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (2019) · cites this paper as Popoli et al. (2011)

    In the section on stress and glucocorticoid effects on glutamatergic transmission (page not available), the review says a single traumatic stressor causes basolateral amygdala neurons to grow new spines over 10 days. It also reports amygdala neuronal growth after chronic stress, but explicitly says the single traumatic stressor did not cause dendritic growth. The passage supports stress-related structural change, but does not establish synaptogenesis or the broader trophic changes attributed to traumatic stress. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Trauma and stress induce synaptic degeneration and neuronal atrophy in the hippocampus.

    “Trauma and stress induce synaptic degeneration, and neuronal atrophy in the hippocampus (Popoli et al., 2011)”

    From Neuroimaging research in posttraumatic stress disorder – Focus on amygdala, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (2019) · cites this paper as Popoli et al., 2011

    The section on stress and glutamatergic transmission (page unavailable) reports that chronic stress causes dendritic shrinkage in hippocampal CA3 and spine loss in CA1. It also says that head trauma can cause irreversible hippocampal damage, but does not specify that trauma causes both synaptic degeneration and neuronal atrophy. The claim omits the chronic-stress qualifier. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Stress-induced structural changes in the PFC contribute to the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric conditions.

    “Although stress-induced structural changes in the PFC are equally important in their contribution to the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric conditions [256–262]”

    From Development of prefrontal cortex (2022) · cites this paper as [257]

    The section on stress effects reports chronic-stress-induced dendritic shrinkage and spine loss in the medial PFC, and the Introduction says impaired PFC plasticity is thought to be a core feature of several neuropsychiatric disorders. The Conclusions link stress-related synaptic changes to psychiatric pathophysiology more cautiously; they do not establish that the PFC structural changes themselves contribute to it, or that their contribution is ‘equally important.’ No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • In animals, chronic stress results in prolonged release of glucocorticoids and leads to hypertrophy of the amygdala and nucleus accumbens, atrophy of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and functional impairment of the PFC.

    “In animals, chronic stress results in the prolonged release of glucocorticoids and leads to hypertrophy of the amygdala and nucleus accumbens, atrophy of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC), and functional impairment of the PFC (44–55).”

    From Psychedelics and Other Psychoplastogens for Treating Mental Illness. (2021) · cites this paper as [51]

    In the section on stress and glucocorticoid effects on glutamatergic transmission (page unavailable), the review reports chronic-stress-related dendritic shrinkage in the hippocampus and medial PFC, growth of basolateral amygdala neurons, and disruption of PFC-dependent tasks. It does not report chronic-stress-induced hypertrophy of the nucleus accumbens or establish that chronic stress causes prolonged glucocorticoid release; its discussion of prolonged release concerns glutamate. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Popoli, M., Yan, Z., McEwen, B. S., & Sanacora, G.
Affiliations
  • University of Milan (IT)
  • University at Buffalo, State University of New York (US)
  • Rockefeller University (US)
  • Yale University (US)
Corresponding author
Sanacora, Gerard
Venue
Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Published
2011-11-30
Volume
13
Issue
1
Pages
22-37
ISSN
  • 1471-003X (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0048
OpenAlex
W2031598294
Cited by
1,393
References
231
Citations by year
2026: 90 · 2025: 88 · 2024: 80 · 2023: 98 · 2022: 92 · 2021: 118 · 2020: 125 · 2019: 118 · 2018: 105 · 2017: 118 · 2016: 84 · 2015: 86 · 2014: 86 · 2013: 57 · 2012: 44
FWCI
5.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature reviews. Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (MH-41256, R01MH085774, R37MH041256, P50MH058911, R01MH081211, R01MH084233, R01MH041256, R01MH071676, MH85774, MH84233, 5-P50MH58911)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
stress, glucocorticoids, glutamatergic neurotransmission, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders, glutamate release, glutamate receptors, glutamate clearance, glutamate metabolism, cognitive processes, chronic stress, acute stress
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain, Glucocorticoids, Humans, Models, Neurological, Neuroglia, Neurons, Stress, Psychological, Synapses, Glutamic Acid

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