Gabaergic neurons of central amygdala mediate anxiety-like behavior induced by social isolation in adolescent mice

Abstract

Exposure to social isolation stress during critical developmental stages escalates vulnerability to psychiatric disorders and may provoke abnormal activity in specific brain regions. In this study, we investigate the neural mechanisms underlying mood alterations following chronic social isolation stress in adolescent mice. Utilizing immunofluorescence, viral injection, in vivo calcium signal recording, and in vitro brain slice electrophysiological recordings, we found that heightened activity of GABAergic neurons in the central amygdala (CeA) contributes to anxiety-like behaviors in adolescent mice exposed to chronic social isolation stress. Inhibiting CeA GABAergic neurons through chemogenetics mitigates anxiety-like behaviors observed in emotional assessments, while activating these neurons elicits anxiety effects in various emotional measures, including the light/dark box (LDB), open field (OF), and elevated plus maze (EPM) tests. These findings not only underscore the abnormalities in brain regions caused by social isolation stress but also identify a potential target for clinical intervention.