Adult hippocampal neurogenesis buffers stress responses and depressive behaviour

Suppressed neurogenesis link to depression Decreased neurogenesis in the hippocampus, a brain region densely populated with receptors for stress hormones, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of anxiety and depression, but direct evidence for this role has been lacking. Snyder et al . show that specifically inhibiting adult neurogenesis in mice disrupts endocrine and behavioural stress responses, and also increases multiple depression-associated behaviours. These data implicate adult-born hippocampal neurons in regulation of the stress response and establish a direct link to depressive symptoms for the first time.