title: Strain-dependent variations in stress coping behavior are mediated by a 5-HT/GABA interaction within the prefrontal corticolimbic system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serotonin and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transmission is crucial in coping strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, using mice from 2 inbred strains widely exploited in behavioral neurochemistry, we investigated whether serotonin transmission in medial prefrontal cortex and GABA in basolateral amygdala determine strain-dependent liability to stress response and differences in coping.
  
  
  RESULTS
  C57BL/6J mice displayed greater immobility in the forced swimming test, higher serotonin outflow in medial prefrontal cortex, higher GABA outflow in basolateral amygdala induced by stress, and higher serotonin 1A receptor levels in medial prefrontal cortex accompanied by lower GABAb receptor levels in basolateral amygdala than DBA/2J mice. In assessing whether serotonin in medial prefrontal cortex determines GABA functioning in response to stress and passive coping behavior in C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice, we observed that selective prefrontal serotonin depletion in C57BL/6J and DBA/2J reduced stress-induced GABA outflow in basolateral amygdala and immobility in the forced swimming test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that strain-dependent prefrontal corticolimbic serotonin/GABA regulation determines the strain differences in stress-coping behavior in the forced swimming test and point to a role of a specific neuronal system in genetic susceptibility to stress that opens up new prospects for innovative therapies for stress disorders.
authors.affiliation: Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy (Drs Andolina, Viscomi, and Puglisi-Allegra); Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Applicate e Biotecnologie, Universita` degli Studi dell'Aquila, Via Vetoio, L'Aquila, Italy (Dr Andolina); Dipartimento di Psicologia and Centro 'Daniel Bovet,' Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy (Drs Maran and Puglisi-Allegra). diego.andolina@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Andolina
authors.affiliation: Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy (Drs Andolina, Viscomi, and Puglisi-Allegra); Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Applicate e Biotecnologie, Universita` degli Studi dell'Aquila, Via Vetoio, L'Aquila, Italy (Dr Andolina); Dipartimento di Psicologia and Centro 'Daniel Bovet,' Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy (Drs Maran and Puglisi-Allegra).
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maran
authors.affiliation: Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy (Drs Andolina, Viscomi, and Puglisi-Allegra); Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Applicate e Biotecnologie, Universita` degli Studi dell'Aquila, Via Vetoio, L'Aquila, Italy (Dr Andolina); Dipartimento di Psicologia and Centro 'Daniel Bovet,' Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy (Drs Maran and Puglisi-Allegra).
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Viscomi
authors.affiliation: Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy (Drs Andolina, Viscomi, and Puglisi-Allegra); Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Applicate e Biotecnologie, Universita` degli Studi dell'Aquila, Via Vetoio, L'Aquila, Italy (Dr Andolina); Dipartimento di Psicologia and Centro 'Daniel Bovet,' Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy (Drs Maran and Puglisi-Allegra).
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puglisi-Allegra
mesh_terms: D015115:5,6-Dihydroxytryptamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D008032:Limbic System / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D017551:Microdialysis; D009043:Motor Activity; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000378:metabolism; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D018490:Serotonin Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D004298:Dopamine; D015115:5,6-Dihydroxytryptamine
keywords: GABA; basolateral amygdala; medial prefrontal cortex; serotonin; strain