Fig. 3: 5-HTDR→VTA neurons from susceptible mice show reduced firing activity.
From: A discrete serotonergic circuit regulates vulnerability to social stress
a, b Behavioral paradigm (a) and experimental timeline (b). c Left, time in the interaction zone in control mice (n = 12; one-way ANOVA, F1,22 = 8.319, P = 0.009) and resilient mice (n = 11; one-way ANOVA, F1,20 = 13.985, P = 0.001) was significantly increased when a target was present, whereas it was significantly decreased in susceptible mice (n = 11; one-way ANOVA, F1,20 = 5.125, P = 0.035). Right, the interaction ratio was significantly decreased in susceptible mice (control, susceptible, and resilient, n = 12, 11, and 11 mice; one-way ANOVA, post hoc LSD, F2,31 = 7.901, control vs susceptible: P = 0.005, susceptible vs resilient: P = 0.001). d Schematic for labeling 5-HTDR→VTA neurons. e Representative firing of 5-HTDR→VTA neurons from control (black), susceptible (red), and resilient (green) mice after CSDS. Scale, 20 pA, 1 s. f Spontaneous firing frequency of 5-HTDR→VTA neurons decreased in susceptible mice compared with both control and resilient mice (n = 12, 12, and 17 cells from 5, 5, and 4 control, resilient, and susceptible animals, respectively; one-way ANOVA, post hoc LSD, F2,38 = 5.218, control vs susceptible: P = 0.046, susceptible vs resilient: P = 0.003). g Interspike intervals were calculated from each neuron firing, and the data in f were presented in a cumulative frequency. h Current-clamp traces of 5-HTDR→VTA neurons from control, susceptible, and resilient animals in response to a 300 pA depolarizing step. Scale, 10 mV, 100 ms. i The firing frequency (Hz) of 5-HTDR→VTA neurons from susceptible mice was reduced compared with both control and resilient mice, indicating reduced excitability (n = 14, 15, and 14 cells from 5, 4, and 4 control, resilient, and susceptible animals, respectively; two-way ANOVA, post hoc LSD, F2,40 = 3.288, control vs susceptible: P = 0.044, susceptible vs resilient: P = 0.024). Data are represented as mean ± SEM; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
