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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2023.12.11.571112

Subcallosal area 25: its responsivity to the stress hormone cortisol and its opposing effects on appetitive motivation in marmosets

Banai Tizkar, R.·McIver, L.·Wood, C. M.·Roberts, A. C.
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Abstract

Aberrant activity in caudal subcallosal anterior cingulate cortex (scACC) is implicated in depression and anxiety symptomatology, with its normalisation a putative biomarker of successful treatment response. The function of scACC in emotion processing and mental health is not fully understood despite its known influence on stress-mediated processes through its rich expression of mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors. Here we examine the causal interaction between area 25 within scACC (scACC-25) and the stress hormone, cortisol, in the context of anhedonia and anxiety-like behaviour. Moreover, the overall role of scACC-25 in hedonic capacity and motivation is investigated under transient pharmacological inactivation and overactivation. The results suggest that a local increase of cortisol in scACC-25 shows a rapid induction of anticipatory anhedonia and increased responsiveness to uncertain threat. Separate inactivation and overactivation of scACC-25 increased and decreased motivation and hedonic capacity, respectively, likely through different underlying mechanisms. Together, these data show that area scACC-25 has a causal role in consummatory and motivational behaviour and produces rapid responses to the stress hormone cortisol, that mediates anhedonia and anxiety-like behaviour.

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Banai Tizkar, R., McIver, L., Wood, C. M., Roberts, A. C.. 2023-12-12. Subcallosal area 25: its responsivity to the stress hormone cortisol and its opposing effects on appetitive motivation in marmosets. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.11.571112

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