China University of Science and Technology has discovered neurons in the brain responsible for stress response behavior.

We live in a natural and social environment full of pressure. In the face of pressure, every individual will make a choice: active response or passive avoidance.what is the biological basis of the brain responsible for this decision-making ability? This is a well-known scientific problem, referred to as the "fight or run" option.researchers often judge the coping strategies of animals in the face of stress according to their behavior patterns.using gene manipulation mice, combined with behavioral science, pharmacogenetics and in vivo microscopic imaging technology, Zhou Jiangning research group of University of science and technology of China has found that under various behavioral challenge scenarios, the adrenocorticotropic hormone releasing hormone (CRF) neurons in the medial prefrontal lobe are the neurobiological basis for choosing "fight or escape".this study first confirmed that the CRF neurons in the medial prefrontal lobe are inhibitory interneurons and form a neural loop with vertebral neurons.then, in vivo microscopic imaging method was used to observe that the activity of CRF neurons increased when mice took active coping behavior in the face of negative pressure.under the negative pressure conditions of tail suspension, forced swimming and social competition frustration, the passive coping behavior of mice can be increased by apoptosis or inhibition of CRF neurons in medial prefrontal lobe by chemical genetic methods, while the activation of CRF neurons promotes active coping behavior.individuals exposed to negative pressure for a long time can still maintain normal physiological and psychological stability, which is called "resistance" to negative pressure; while under long-term negative pressure, it is called "susceptibility" to negative pressure.epidemiological and clinical evidence shows that individuals who are accustomed to passive coping behaviors are at increased risk of stress-related psychological, physical dysfunction or mental illness, known as "susceptibility.".this study further investigated the role and mechanism of prefrontal CRF neurons in the generation of "resistance" behavior in mice. Br / > in the case of long-term "selective response", the percentage of prefrontal neurons with "active resistance" was significantly increased in the case of "active resistance" in the "prefrontal cortex" of mice with "long-term competition".it is worth mentioning that the effect has a long duration. Br / >in the experiment of double-sided inhibition of the Roman inspired neurons, or the double-sided inhibition of the Roman neurons was found.in the picture, the red mice holding the sword (CRF neurons) are strong and brave, while the Blue mice without the sword are timid and afraid.(drawing: Wang Jing, Chen Xiaodong, Xu Qizhi) this study revealed that the CRF neurons in the medial prefrontal lobe are neurons responsible for regulating stress response behavior in the brain.promoting the activity of CRF neurons in medial prefrontal cortex can enhance the active coping behavior and enhance the resistance to environmental negative pressure.this discovery promotes the understanding of the important scientific problem of "stress coping behavior choice". In order to improve or treat negative stress-related disorders and diseases, new ideas and approaches are proposed.related research results were published online in neuron Journal on February 25 with the title of "prefrontal cortex corticotropin relating factor nerves control behavioral styles selection under challenging situations". the research group of Professor Zhou Jiangning cooperated with Professor Gong Hui of Huazhong University of science and technology, Professor Yang Yupeng and Professor Zhang Zhi of USTC. Dr. Chen Peng is the first author of the paper, and Professor Zhou Jiangning is the corresponding author. the research is supported by the major research program of NSFC, the B-type pilot project of Chinese Academy of Sciences and the national key R & D plan.