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Direct retino-raphe projection alters serotonergic tone and affective behavior.

ABSTRACT: Light is a powerful modulator of higher-order cognitive processes such as mood but it remains unclear which neural circuits mediate the impact of light on affective behavior. We found that light deprivation produces a depressive-like behavioral state that is reversed by activation of direct retinal signals to the serotonergic dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) in a manner equivalent to treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine. Surprisingly, the DRN-projecting retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are indistinguishable from the classic alpha/Y-like RGC type that contributes to image-forming visual pathways. Silencing RGC firing or specific immunotoxin ablation of DRN-projecting RGCs increased depressive-like behavior and reduced serotonin levels in the DRN. Serotonin has a key role in the pathophysiology of depression, and these results demonstrate that retino-raphe signals modulate DRN serotonergic tone and affective behavior.

SUBMITTER: Ren C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3656380 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Direct retino-raphe projection alters serotonergic tone and affective behavior.

Ren Chaoran C   Luan Liju L   Wui-Man Lau Benson B   Huang Xin X   Yang Jian J   Zhou Yuan Y   Wu Xihong X   Gao Jie J   Pickard Gary E GE   So Kwok-Fai KF   Pu Mingliang M  

Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology 20130131 7

Light is a powerful modulator of higher-order cognitive processes such as mood but it remains unclear which neural circuits mediate the impact of light on affective behavior. We found that light deprivation produces a depressive-like behavioral state that is reversed by activation of direct retinal signals to the serotonergic dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) in a manner equivalent to treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine. Surprisingly, the DRN-projecting retinal ganglion  ...[more]