Optogenetic stimulation of medial prefrontal cortex Drd1 neurons produces rapid and long-lasting antidepressant effects
Nature Communications January 15, 2019 Brendan D. Hare, R. Shinohara, Rong‐jian Liu et al.
Activating Drd1 dopamine receptor expressing pyramidal cells in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) produces rapid and long-lasting antidepressant and anxiolytic responses in mice, whereas stimulating Drd2 expressing pyramidal cells does not affect anxiety-like or depression-like measures. Disrupting Drd1 activity also blocks the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine. Stimulation of mPFC Drd1 terminals in the basolateral amygdala recapitulates the antidepressant effects of somatic stimulation. These findings identify specific cellular targets in the mPFC and downstream circuitry involved in rapid antidepressant responses.