Research on neural plasticity and molecular basis underlying emotional behaviors with emphasis on roles of inflammation-related molecules

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Chronic stress causes emotional changes, such as depression and anxiety. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. We have employed repeated social defeat stress, a mouse model of major depression, and have shown that prostaglandin(PG) E2 and its receptor EP1 mediate emotional changes by chronic stress through attenuation of prefrontal dopaminergic activity. Further, cyclooxygenase(COX) 1, a PG synthase expressed in microglia in the brain, is critical for emotional changes by repeated social defeat, suggesting a potential role of PGE2 synthesis in microglia.