Amygdala-hippocampal innervation modulates stress-induced depressive-like behaviors through AMPA receptors

Significance Basal lateral amygdala and ventral CA1 are critical sites during chronic stress-induced depression. Here we demonstrated that AMPARs mediated weakening of pBLA-vCA1 innervation in mice subjected to CUMS. Stimulation of pBLA-vCA1 innervation via chemogenetics or administration of cannabidiol (CBD) could reverse synaptosomal AMPAR decrease and alleviate CUMS-induced depressive-like behaviors. These findings highlighted the importance of AMPARs and the pBLA-vCA1 innervation in an animal model of depression and revealed the potential for CBD in major depression treatment.