Guang-Ming Zhang
Hong-Yun Wu
Wen-Qiang Cui
Wei Peng- 1College of Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- 2First College of Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- 3Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
Despite extensive research in recent decades, knowledge of the pathophysiology of depression in neural circuits remains limited. Recently, the lateral habenula (LHb) has been extensively reported to undergo a series of adaptive changes at multiple levels during the depression state. As a crucial relay in brain networks associated with emotion regulation, LHb receives excitatory or inhibitory projections from upstream brain regions related to stress and cognition and interacts with brain regions involved in emotion regulation. A series of pathological alterations induced by aberrant inputs cause abnormal function of the LHb, resulting in dysregulation of mood and motivation, which present with depressive-like phenotypes in rodents. Herein, we systematically combed advances from rodents, summarized changes in the LHb and related neural circuits in depression, and attempted to analyze the intrinsic logical relationship among these pathological alterations. We expect that this summary will greatly enhance our understanding of the pathological processes of depression. This is advantageous for fostering the understanding and screening of potential antidepressant targets against LHb.
Introduction
Depression is a neuropsychiatric disorder regarded as the most prevalent crippling and chronic mood disorder (1). The negative symptoms of depression include affective blunting, anhedonia, and social withdrawal, which profoundly affect an individual’s quality of life. The triggers of depression are multifaceted, in addition to the most common stressors, including pain (2), substance use disorders (3), and Parkinson’s disease (PD) (4). These factors complicate the pathophysiology of depression. Treatment of depression concomitant with other chronic diseases is challenging.
Although the precise causes and pathophysiology of depression are still unknown, the understandings of the neurobiological mechanisms in depression have rapidly progressed over the last decades (5). Among these, several publications have focused on pathophysiological states and adaptive changes in emotionally regulated brain areas (6). The habenula has received growing interest due to its unique role and essential function in neural mechanisms of depression (7). The habenula is a small bilateral region located in the posterior-dorsal-medial end aspect of the thalamus, which can be classified into two nuclear complexes: the medial habenula (MHb) and the lateral habenula (LHb) (Figure 1). The LHb is a complex and heterogeneous nucleus that receives afferent inputs mainly from the limbic forebrain region and the basal ganglia (8, 9). It sends major glutamatergic projection to the rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg) and inhibits monoaminergic nuclei based on the relay function of RMTg. Furthermore, LHb has attracted considerable interest due to its exceptional location in modulating both the dopaminergic and serotonergic system in the raphe nuclei (10–12) and, in particular, both of which are neurotransmitters that regulate emotions (13, 14). LHb has been widely reported to be strongly associated with depression (8, 15, 16) and has emerged as a crucial determinant of the pathogenesis of depression (17–19).
Figure 1. The habenula in mice in physiological state. Top, the location of the MHb and LHb is indicated by red circles and red arrows, bar = 500 μm (A). DAPI staining of the habenula of mice, bar = 100 μm (B).
The dysregulation and major mechanisms of LHb in depression have been well summarized by Browne et al. (20) and Gold et al. (21). However, there are still a lot of aspects remain fragmentary. Few studies have systemically looked at adaptive changes in the LHb at many different levels, especially at synaptic function, and analyzed logical cause and effect relationships between these changes. This review covers the roles of the LHb in depression and the process from physiological activation to pathological hyperactivity. The most recent findings on studies in rodent depression models will be presented from several aspects, including anatomical base, nerve excitability, functional projections, synaptic transmission, and the molecular mechanisms involved. In particular, we attempted to speculate on the complicated pathological process by which risk factors for depression result in a series of pathological alterations in the LHb. This will aid in understanding the detailed mechanisms of LHb in depression and the screening of potential antidepressant targets.
The anatomical base of depression in lateral habenula
Asymmetry in lateral habenula in physiological and pathophysiological states
In multiple classes of mammals and humans, the LHb exhibits structural asymmetry, which might be related to differential activation and damage on both sides (22, 23). In contrast to the MHb, the LHb volume on the left side is larger than that on the right side in healthy individuals (24) and patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) (25). Analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from patients with MDD has revealed significantly more habenula-thalamic fiber connections on the right side than on the left side (26). This aberrant connectivity has also been observed in subclinical depression, which is considered a harbinger of MDD (27). The posterior parietal thalamus where LHb is located showed increased functional connectivity in resting-state functional MRI of patients with subclinical depression (28). These findings corroborate the essential role of asymmetrical projections to the LHb from thalamic nuclei in depression. Indeed, in addition to its structure, functional asymmetry in the habenula has been reported. Stress activates the LHb asymmetrically (29). The right-side habenula activation in depression is considerably higher than that in healthy individuals; however, the degree of activation on the left side positively correlates with levels of anhedonia (30). In a mouse model of partial transection of the infraorbital nerve (pT-ION), compared to analgesic and anxiolytic effects through suppression of bilateral LHb activity, selective inhibition of glutamatergic neurons in the unilateral (left side) LHb mitigates pT-ION-induced anxiety-like behaviors but fails to alleviate neuropathic pain (31).
It is possible to assume that the asymmetry of the habenula is probably closely linked to the long-term brain stimulation by MDD; however, the exact intrinsic link remains unclear. Perhaps this could be explained by the theory of lateralization of the brain, which organizes brain functions into specific brain hemispheres and is pervasive in vertebrates (32).
The neural connection network of lateral habenula
Inputs
The habenula is a conserved and stable bilateral brain structure that is widely present in multiple species (33). It can be further divided into the medial subnucleus (LHbM) and the lateral subnucleus (LHbL), which receives and processes inputs from the limbic brain region and the basal ganglia through the fiber tract of the stria medullaris and serves as the point of intersection of signals from both sources in the hypothalamus (34, 35) (Figure 2). Specifically, limbic inputs from hypothalamic structures such as the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), paraventricular nucleus (PVN), suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) (36), the lateral preoptic area (LPO) (37), and the medial dorsal thalamic nucleus (MDT) (38). The second significant source of neuronal input is the basal forebrain, including, ventral pallidum (VP) (39), nucleus accumbens (NAc) (40), substantia innominate (SI) (41), medial septum (MS) (42, 43), and lateral septum (LS) (44). Central amygdala (CeA) (45) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) (36), which belong to other limbic areas, also project to the LHb. Furthermore, there are projecting neurons from the basal ganglia and cortex, mainly the entopeduncular nucleus (EPN) (46) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) (47). The thalamic ventral lateral geniculate nucleus–intergeniculate leaflet (vLGN–IGL), which is attributed to the visual thalamic region, also projects to the LHb (18). A recent study reveals more LHb-projecting neurons along with the type of transmission through immunohistochemistry and viral tracing methods, which expands our understanding of inputs to the LHb (48).
Figure 2. Summary schematic of neural circuits linking the lateral habenula (LHb) to the pathophysiology of depression. The circuits have experimentally proven to regulate depressive-like behaviors, including anhedonia, social disorder, passive coping, and aggressive behaviors are represented by the solid line. Dashed lines represent potential functional circuits, but there is insufficient clear experimental evidence to determine the regulatory role in depressive-like behaviors. LHb receives primarily glutamatergic input (shown in red) and GABAergic inputs (shown in blue). The first source is hypothalamic structures, including the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), paraventricular nucleus (PVN), suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), lateral preoptic area (LPO), and the medial dorsal thalamic nucleus (MDT). The second is the basal forebrain, including the ventral pallidum (VP), nucleus accumbens (NAc), substantia innominate (SI), medial septum (MS), and lateral septum (LS). Other limbic areas, such as central amygdala (CeA), and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) are also the sources of LHb input. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) also projects directly to the LHb. Furthermore, LHb receives glutamate/GABA co-releasing projections (shown in purple) from the entopeduncular nucleus (EPN) located in the basal ganglia and GABAergic projections from the thalamic ventral lateral geniculate nucleus–intergeniculate leaflet (vLGN–IGL) located in the visual thalamic region. The vLGN–IGL and the SCN can receive light signaling from retina cells. LHA also sends orexinergic projection (shown in green) to LHb. Based on the strong glutamatergic projections to the rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg), LHb forms a complex network of projections to both dopaminergic nuclei and the raphe nucleus, which the former comprises the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), and the latter comprises dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and median raphe nucleus (MRN). Dopaminergic and serotonergic projections are shown respectively in brown and in yellow. Furthermore, LHb sends glutamatergic projection to the periaqueductal gray (PAG), laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDT) and locus coeruleus (LC) and receives feedback projections from these regions. Hippocampus (Hippo), which is strongly related to depression, shows a potential connection with LHb.
Outputs
On the output side, the downstream projections of the LHb are relatively homogeneous and clear compared to richly sourced inputs (49). Through the fasciculus retroflexus, also known as the habenula–interpeduncular tract, the LHb sends strong projection to GABAergic neurons in RMTg, which is a GABAergic relay for projections to monoaminergic nuclei (50). In addition, the LHb sends glutamatergic projection to the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) (51), periaqueductal gray (PAG) (52), locus coeruleus (LC) (53), and laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDT) (54) and receives feedback projections from these regions (Figure 2). The LHb also sends reciprocal projections to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) (55), dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), and median raphe nucleus (MRN) (56–58).
Lateral habenula hyperactivity during depressive state
Neural excitation
Lateral habenula neural hyperexcitability can be observed in different rodent models of depression, such as repeated social defeat stress or chronic restraint stress (CRS) (59, 60), early life stress (61), aversive stimuli (62), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) models (59), and learned helplessness (55). Consequently, depressive symptoms can be improved by reducing neuronal activity in the LHb (17) or pharmacological inhibition of LHb function (63). The evoked expression of immediate-early gene-encoded proteins (c-Fos) is one of the markers associated with neuronal activity. Acute stress exposure and chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) resulted in elevated levels of c-Fos expression in mice LHb (64, 65). A more detailed study showed that stress selectively activated one of the LHb subpopulations (66). Approximately 10% of LHb glutamatergic neurons show an opposite inhibitory response to foot shock (67). Compared with mice that exhibited social avoidance from immediately after the repeated social defeat stress, c-Fos expression in the LHb was higher in those that exhibited social avoidance only at later periods (68). This demonstrates that the activity of LHb neurons would perhaps affect different avoidance strategies to stress. The data above show that the stress effects on LHb neurons are more complex than just the activated effect. In human MRI-based studies, patients with depression exhibit right-sided habenula activation, which is associated with more severe depressive symptoms and lack of pleasure (30). These data are in agreement with the asymmetry in the LHb described previously.
Strangely, the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) led to LHb activation, which contradicts their antidepressant effects (69, 70). One speculation is that the increase in serotonin (5-HT) induced by these SSRIs acts on monoamine receptors with neuronal excitatory effects on the LHb. Sexual dimorphism has been observed in alcohol-induced anxiety and the LHb stress response (65, 71). This may be ascribed to sex differences in the stress-responsive brain regions and related functional networks. The firing rate of VTA-projecting LHb neurons increased specifically in female mice after subchronic variable stress (72). A recent study showed sexual dimorphism of inputs to the LHb in mice, including more excitatory projection neurons in female mice and stronger GABAergic projections to the LHb in male mice (44). In summary, these results indicated a higher sensitivity to stress in females, which matches clinical observations (73). Moreover, the nature of different stressors can also affect sex differences in neural activation patterns of the LHb (74).
It is almost certain that LHb overactivity causes depressive symptoms. Overexcitation of the LHb may result from changes in LHb-projecting neurons, dysregulation of synaptic transmission, and changes in synaptic plasticity.
Burst firing
Enhanced LHb glutamatergic synaptic transmission and an overall increase in tonic and burst firing are observed in a rat model of early life stress, indicating an increase in intrinsic excitability (75). Except for early life stress, CRS can induce burst firing of action potentials in the LHb neurons, and knocking out p11 reverses this change (60). As a prodromal state and significant inducer of depression, early-stress-induced LHb burst firing is a precursor to depressive symptoms, which could perhaps improve indirect inhibitory input to downstream regions and release neuropeptides (76). The most well-known work is a series of studies from Hu Hailan’s laboratory (19, 77). Hu et al. indicated that N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-dependent burst firing of LHb neurons was observed in mice with depression phenotypes (77). This process is complicated and requires the participation of low voltage-sensitive T-type Ca2+ channels (T-VSCCs) and neuronal resting membrane potentials, of which the latter is regulated by Kir4.1. The LHb burst firing is reversed by ketamine, an NMDAR antagonist (78). A further study by Cui et al. indicated that an increase in depression-like symptoms was accompanied by the upregulation of astroglial Kir4.1 in the LHb (19).
In the study mentioned above, the main outcome measures of the depression-like phenotype were anhedonia. However, in a study by Cerniauskas et al. tonic firing was observed in overactive LHb after chronic stress (79). These mice exhibited different behavioral phenotypes of motivational impairment. Although variations in neuronal potential may have resulted from the different detection methods, implications for LHb tonic firing could not be easily ruled out (61). The difference in the projection subtypes of LHb neurons may lead to varied presentations of depression-like phenotype (79). An important goal of future studies is to define the mechanism of potential changes in the LHb. It is well established that LHb burst firing belongs to a postsynaptic event most probably driven by presynaptic regulation.
Functional synaptic circuits related to depression symptoms
The important role of the LHb in the pathophysiology of depression is largely due to its rich projection neurons (7). The LHb receives input from stress-responsive and motivation-related upstream regions and emits inhibitory outputs to downstream brain regions associated with monoamine neurotransmitters (20). Stress can activate not only LHb itself but also the nerve projection network for receiving and processing stress, which consists of mPFC, BNST, LHb etc. (80). In fact, neither in a resting state (81) nor under stress (82), LHb plays multiple crucial roles in the network composed of synaptic circuits (Figure 2).
Excitatory projections to lateral habenula
Lateral habenula neurons are primarily glutamatergic. These glutamatergic neurons receive abundant glutamatergic projections from the limbic forebrain regions and basal ganglia and achieve indirect control of the midbrain monoaminergic nuclei based on strong glutamatergic projections to RMTg (7). Therefore, glutamate is the most basic signaling molecule involved in the neural regulatory functions of the LHb.
Basal forebrain
After exposure to stress, different subgroups of parvalbumin (PV)-positive VP neurons generate excitatory output to the LHb and inhibitory output to the VTA, causing behavioral despair/helplessness and social withdrawal, respectively (83). Stress-activated VP neurons targeting different brain regions exhibit different depressive symptoms. Topically applied ketamine and optogenetic inhibition of the VP-LHb circuit rescued the CSDS-induced depression-like phenotype (39). This circuit also contributes to cocaine-withdrawal symptoms (84). The substantia innominate (SI), another subregion of the basal forebrain adjacent to the VP, receives input from the CeA processing aversive emotions and sends glutamatergic and GABAergic projections to the LHb (41, 85). LHb-projecting SI glutamatergic neurons were confirmed to encode nerve activation of the LHb after acute aversive stimuli and mediate depressive-like behaviors after chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in mice (41). Silencing SI neurons or reward consumption can reduce depressive-like behaviors by inhibiting LHb-projecting SI neurons (41). The NAc can also be activated by stress and showed a significant neuromodulation effect on emotion and depression (65, 86). The interaction between the NAc and the LHb requires further study.
Moreover, glutamatergic projections from LPO neurons can act together with LHb-projecting GABAergic neurons in normal reward and aversion processing (37). Similar situations also exist with projection neurons from MS and to LHb. Co-dominance of LHb neuron by MS GABAergic and glutamatergic axons bidirectionally modulate LHb activity and convey both rewarding and aversive signals to LHb (42, 43). LHb is likely a hub that converting aversive information to negative emotion. Given the dysregulation of the reward system that underlies anhedonia and other depressive symptoms, LHb circuits related to reward aversion warrant intensive study. LS, which is contiguous with the MS, relays stress information to LHb the stress response network through parallel GABAergic and glutamatergic projections (80).
Lateral hypothalamic area
The glutamatergic LHA-LHb circuit is an essential node in value processing and escapes behavior after aversive stimuli (87, 88). The LHA transmits stress signals through functional nerve fibers projecting to the LHb, which drives the depression-like phenotype in mice by inducing increased activation and burst firing in the LHb (89). More importantly, a pattern of synaptic potentiation induced by chronic stress was first discovered in the LHA-LHb circuit, and artificial induction of this potentiation can produce depression in naive mice (89).
Medial prefrontal cortex
Activation of the mPFC-LHb circuit is involved in passive coping behavior and social dysfunction (90, 91). During negative affective stimuli, increased theta/alpha synchrony within the Hb and prefrontal cortex-habenula network has been observed in human participants (92). The lack of extracellular ATP activates LHb-projecting mPFC neurons through disinhibition of mPFC GABAergic interneurons, resulting in depressive-like behaviors in a mouse model of depression induced by CSDS or IP3R2-null mutation (47). P2 × 2 in mPFC GABAergic interneurons is a mediating molecule involved in this process.
Median raphe nucleus
Glutamatergic LHb-projecting MRN neurons can be activated by aversive stimuli and promote burst firing in the LHb (56). This activation is aversive and drives aggressive behavior and anhedonia. Furthermore, MRN connect with the LHb, VTA, PFC, and hippocampus (Figure 2), making it a key point for the negative experience and related long-term memory formation (56).
Paraventricular nucleus
Glutamatergic vasopressin-expressing magnocellular neurons in PVN project directly to the GABAergic interneurons in LHb (93). This circuit can be activated physiologically by water deprivation and inhibit the LHb functional output, resulting in decreased freezing and immobility during innate fear and behavioral despair assessments (93). These findings imply the regulatory potential of vasopressin-expressing PVN neurons in abnormal outputs of LHb during depressive state.
Suprachiasmatic nucleus
As the principal circadian pacemaker in mammals receiving light information from the retina, the SCN can innervate the LHb and largely determines the circadian oscillations of neuronal activity and firing pattern in the LHb (94, 95). Moreover, the SCN is likely to modulate the clock gene in LHb, mainly Per1 and Per2, which have been demonstrated to be directly correlated with the day-night variation of depressive-like behaviors in rodent depression models (96, 97). An in-depth study of the SCN-LHb circuit would be important for elucidating the underlying mechanisms of the day-night symptom fluctuation and light therapy in patients with depression or bipolar disorder.
Other glutamatergic projections
Another glutamatergic projection worth studying is the BNST-LHb. BNST is considered as a way station between stress regions and brain reward centers (98). Despite the small number of relevant studies, it cannot be denied that BNST is the connecting point receiving stress signals and conveying information to LHb, which might promote stress-induced anxiety (99). Similar effects can be found in the LHb-LDT circuit. Activation of LHb glutamatergic input to LDT GABAergic interneurons can generate fear-like responses, and prolonged activation of interneurons in LDT can induce anxiety-like behaviors (54). LDT is also bidirectionally connected with the LHb and plays a potential role in processing aversive information (100).
The function of reciprocal excitatory projections between the PAG and LHb has not been fully elucidated (44, 52). In a study of patients with irritable bowel syndrome with chronic recurrent abdominal pain and negative emotions as the major symptoms, abnormal enhancement of the resting-state functional connectivity of the LHb-PAG indicated pain-induced negative emotions are possibly related to the LHb-PAG circuit (101). LHb also sends glutamatergic projection to the LC, which is the primary source of norepinephrine in the central nervous system (CNS) and plays a critical role in pain-related anxiety or depression (102). Intensive studies on these two regions contribute to the understanding of how LHb is involved in processing the emotional component of chronic pain.
Inhibitory projections to lateral habenula
Glutamate/GABA co-releasing neurons
Extrinsic GABAergic inputs are the major inhibition mechanisms in the LHb. Most of the current evidence indicates that one of the main contributors of GABA in the LHb is glutamate-GABA co-releasing projecting neurons from the EPN and VTA (46, 103, 104). The distribution of vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGluT2), vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT), and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) were determined in these neurons by in situ hybridization. GABA and glutamate are released presynaptically into the respective synaptic vesicles (103). In particular, the balance of GABA/glutamate signaling was skewed toward a reduction of GABA in EPN-projecting co-releasing neurons of rats with congenital learned helplessness, which can be reversed by SSRI treatment (46). These phenomena are likely one of the reasons for the increased activity of the LHb among learned helplessness (55). Chronic exposure to stress can induce a depressive-like phenotype of motivational impairments through synaptic adaptations in excitatory EPN inputs to VTA-projecting LHb neurons, including increased presynaptic release probability and upregulation of GluR2-lacking α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid receptor (AMPAR) (79). This mode of GABA/glutamate balance regulation has also been observed in cocaine-withdrawal symptoms. The decrease in VGAT in LHb-projecting EPN neurons switches GABA/glutamate signaling from balance to excitation, and cocaine-withdrawal symptoms are reversed by VGAT overexpression (105).
A recent study showed that glutamate/GABA co-packaging in LHb-projecting EPN neurons is regulated by 5-HT or adenosine receptor agonists (104). Moreover, hyperactive LHb may decrease the co-release of VTA-projecting inputs via the inhibition of glutamatergic projections to the VTA (106). Given the abundance of reciprocal projecting neurons between the LHb and VTA, mutual regulation requires further study (107).
Other GABAergic projections
Additionally, the medial portion of the LHb receives GABAergic inhibitory inputs from the basal forebrain (40, 108), LPO (37), VP (109), and PV-positive neurons within MDT (38). Overall, inhibitory innervation in the LHb encodes a reward (110). vLGN–IGL, a visual thalamic region, provides a GABAergic input to LHb. This inhibitory pathway receives light signaling via retinal ganglion cells expressing M4-type melanopsin and represses LHb activity, which is one of the mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effect of light therapy (18). Indeed, the vast majority of glutamatergic projections to the LHb are accompanied by parallel GABAergic axons (44) (Figure 2). Like co-releasing neurons, the imbalance between glutamatergic projections and GABAergic projections is probably the pathogenesis of depression and other mood disorders.
Other regulatory projections
Dopaminergic projections
Reciprocal feedback projections between LHb and dopaminergic nuclei, mainly the VTA and SNc, are the main connections between LHb and the dopamine system (111, 112).
The activity of VTA dopaminergic neurons is inhibited when the LHb is activated by stress or electrical stimulation and is involved in the regulation of reward-related behavior (113). This inhibitory effect is achieved through indirect projections via GABAergic RMTg neurons (114). Selective inhibition of VTA neurons has been confirmed to rapidly produce depression-like behaviors, including behavioral despair and anhedonia (115). This suggests that the LHb-RMTg-VTA neural circuits may lead to depression, although this neural circuit appears unaffected by chronic mild stress (116). Furthermore, direct glutamatergic projection from the LHb to the VTA has been observed (117). This excitatory projection does not contradict the indirect inhibition of VTA dopamine neurons by the LHb. A higher release probability at synapses on VTA-projecting LHb neurons enhanced learned helplessness behaviors in the acute or congenital learned helplessness rat model of depression (55). One study indicated that the LHb-VTA circuit favors increased immobility in the tail suspension test rather than anxiety or anhedonia (79). Individual differences in behavior and neurophysiological factors may result in different results (79). Furthermore, LHb neurons can activate VTA dopamine axons projecting to the mPFC (16). Similar to RMTg, VTA is also a relay of LHb to control the neurons of other regions, including upstream regions of LHb.
An additional associated dopaminergic neural circuit is the LHb-RMTg-SNc. RMTg shifts excitatory glutamatergic projection of the LHb into inhibitory GABAergic projection to dopamine neurons in SNc, which has been confirmed to be involved in aversive and despair-like behaviors (51). Inhibition of this pathway reversed behavioral despair in CRS depression model mice (51). In a series of studies by Liu et al. lesions of the SNc in rats could generate a series of consequences in the LHb, including an increased firing rate and hyperactivity of LHb neurons and anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors (106, 118, 119).
Serotonergic dorsal raphe nucleus projections
The reciprocal connectivity between the LHb and DRN is the main 5-HT regulatory pathway in the LHb (120). More specifically, on the one hand, there is a glutamatergic projection from LHb to the GABAergic interneurons and 5-HT neurons in the DRN (121). The RMTg is also a major GABAergic relay between the LHb and the DRN (122). According to brain-wide imaging data in zebrafish exposed to a stress source, passive coping strategies presented progressive activation of neurons in the ventral (lateral) habenula in terms of neuronal dynamics, and downstream neurons in the 5-HT raphe nucleus are suppressed by these activations (123). The discrepancy in the rhythmic discharges of LHb cells projecting to the DRN between stress-susceptible mice and stress-resilient mice led to different reactions of the two types of mice to CSDS (124). DNA hypomethylation in the LHb has been shown to regulate emotional states by inhibiting DRN 5-HT projecting neurons (125). Correspondingly, improved depressive-like behavior in rats and higher 5-HT levels in the DRN after intra-LHb microinjection of a substance P receptor antagonist showed antidepressant potentials in this circuit (126). A recent study showed that one subpopulation of LHb neurons project directly to glutamatergic DRN neurons projecting to VTA dopamine neurons and mediate social instigation-induced aggressive behavior in male mice (127).
In contrast, 5-HT neurons in the DRN project to the LHb and presynaptically inhibit LHb excitatory neurons, which depressive-like behaviors in the CUMS rat model were improved by optogenetic activation of DRN-LHb projections (58). One study suggested the existence of a 5-HT projection from DRN to GABAergic interneurons of the CeA, with glutamatergic neurons in the latter projecting directly to the LHb (128). Inhibition and activation of the pathway separately produced and decreased pain-related depression-like behaviors in a mouse model of chronic pain (128). Increased LHb-DRN pathway activity may serve as one of the underlying mechanisms of the comorbidity of pain and depression (13).
Orexinergic lateral hypothalamic area projections
As the sole source of orexin in CNS, LHA orexin neurons project to the LHb, releasing orexin into GAD2-expressing LHb neurons and driving aggressive behaviors in male mice (129, 130). A further investigation showed that LHA orexin neurons project not only to GAD2-expressing neurons but also to glutamatergic neurons directly (131). The LHAOrx-LHbGlu circuit can be activated by social stress, and pharmacogenetic activation of orexinergic signaling or optogenetic activation of this circuit can rescue depressive-like and anxiety-like behaviors induced by CSDS (131). The LHOrx-LHbGAD2 and LHAOrx-LHbGlu circuits act as regulators of different dimensions of social behavior, although the potential connections and interactions between the two remain unknown.
Changes in lateral habenula synaptic transmission during the depression state
Synaptic transmission is the vital physiological basis of the LHb mechanism in depression (110). Synaptic transmission profoundly affects the intrinsic excitability and potential levels of LHb neurons. Dynamic changes in synaptic regulate the balance of excitation and inhibition, including tentatively potentiated or attenuated synaptic efficacy and long-term improved postsynaptic receptor sensitivity or long-term greater presynaptic release. Since depression is a chronic pathological process, long-term presynaptic or postsynaptic plasticity is more dominant, namely long-term potation, including long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD). Although the majority are glutamatergic, LHb neurons regulate a variety of neurotransmitters through abundant projection neurons (111). Following sections discuss many receptors in the LHb with modulatory effects on mood and depression, which is summarized in Table 1.
Table 1. Neurotransmitter receptors in LHb that can regulate depression-like behaviors.
Glutamatergic system
Abnormal changes in glutamatergic synaptic transmission
Glutamate is a major neurotransmitter in the CNS. Most neurons in the LHb are glutamatergic (132). Recently, many studies have focused on aberrant synaptic transmission in depression (133, 134). Stress is one of the most severe risk factors in the pathophysiology of MDD and can profoundly regulate glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the LHb. After exposure to CUMS, the results of metabolite analysis showed that glutamate levels were dramatically increased in the LHb of rat (135). Several studies have shown that glutamate transport and clearance barriers can induce depression-like behaviors in rats (118, 136). Early life stress can also enhance glutamatergic synaptic strength through postsynaptic and presynaptic mechanisms, changing the excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance of LHb neurons and persisting into adulthood (75).
Notably, an individual study has also shown a decrease in glutamatergic synaptic transmission after stress (137). This downregulation led to not depressed mood but cognitive deficits accompanied by a postsynaptic decrease in GluA1 AMPAR. Given that cognitive impairment is a frequent complaint in patients with depression (138), two opposing stress-induced glutamatergic synaptic transmissions are likely to be present in the LHb simultaneously.
The functional regulation of glutamatergic receptors
The vast majority of the regulatory strength of glutamatergic synapses in the LHb is dependent on NMDAR and AMPAR. Foot-shock-induced excitation of glutamatergic neurons in the LHb required the involvement of NMDAR and AMPAR (67). Local injection of GluN2B-containing NMDAR antagonists or the specific GluN2B antagonist rislenemdaz into the LHb has been demonstrated to improve alcohol-induced anxiety-like behaviors (139) and CRS-induced despair-like behaviors (140). In addition to the aforementioned short-term regulation, NMDAR can also produce LTD in the LHb. The activation of synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDARs containing GluN2A or GluN2B leads to LTD triggered by low frequency stimulation in the LHb (141). Therefore, synaptic NMDA receptor-dependent LTD could be blocked by CRS and may be one of the complex pathological processes of stress-related depressive symptoms (141).
AMPAR is classified into calcium-permeable GluA2-lacking (CP-AMPAR) and calcium-impermeable GluA2-containing (CI-AMPAR) (142). Activation of neurons expressing CI-AMPAR or blockade of neurons expressing CP-AMPAR contributes to an increase in the level of extracellular DA and 5-HT in the mPFC, leading to the improvement of the depression-behaviors of a PD rat model induced by lesions of SNc (143, 144). The two types of neuronal may vary widely in functional features, which may be attributed to differences in targeted neurons (143). Withdrawal-induced symptoms, such as depression, could be regulated by LHb AMPAR (145). Similar to NMDAR, LHb AMPAR can participate in the long-term regulation of excitatory synapse. CP-AMPARs are necessary to activate NMDAR-dependent LTD (141). Although enhancement of LHb AMPAR signaling can increase bursting activity during emotional processes of depression, local injection of the AMPAR blocker into the LHb did not produce a rapid antidepressant effect, similar to the NMDAR blocker (77).
GABAergic system
The internal inhibition of the LHb neurons has always been worth discussing. One study suggested that GAD2-expressing neurons in the LHb could suppress LHb neuronal activity through GABA release to control aggressive behaviors in male mice (129), although these neurons have been shown to release glutamate rather than GABA, targeting the midbrain (146). The lack of VGAT in LHb neurons renders the release of GABA unclear (147). In summary, GAD2-expressing neurons in the LHb probably release more than one neurotransmitter (148). The finding of locally targeting inhibitory LHb neurons that express PV also further identified internal inhibition in the LHb (38). The density of PV neurons decreased in the LHb of adult mice after early life stress (149). PV-positive neurons are present not only locally but also in projecting neurons (mainly inhibitory) (83, 150). The blockade of GABA transporter 1 (GAT1) or GABA transporter 3 (GAT3) in the LHb upregulated extracellular GABA levels and caused greater GABAergic inhibition, downregulating LHb neuronal activity and firing rate of LHb neurons, resulting in an improvement in depression-like behaviors in PD rats (119).
Stress inhibition in a small portion of LHb neurons requires GABAARs (67). Intra-LHb infusion of muscimol (an agonist of GABAAR) decreased the firing rate of LHb neurons and produced antidepressant-like effects in rats with PD (151). Activation of GABAARs can decrease neuronal firing in the LHb (152). During the resting state, GABABRs are involved in the physiological suppression of LHb activity. This inhibition was attenuated by stress-induced blunting of GABAB-GIRK signaling, in which protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) inhibition reversed the changes in GABAB-GIRK signaling and decreased depression-like phenotype (153). Innate differences in GABABRs expression levels determine sensitivity to social stressors in mice (64). A recent study showed that GABA-LTD is regulated by presynaptic GABABRs in mice and can be disturbed by social isolation (154). Notably, the injection of agonists and antagonists of GABABRs resulted in the remission of stress-induced social withdrawal symptoms (64). This contradictory result may be due to the functional divergence of presynaptic and postsynaptic GABABRs.
Dopamine system
Changes in the concentrations of dopamine and 5-HT were observed across parts of the mesocorticolimbic region in rats with neonatal habenula lesions (155). Spontaneous activity in the LHb is enhanced by dopamine receptor activation (156). Disturbance of dopamine subtype 1 receptor (D1R) function contributes to increased anxiety-like behaviors and decreases depressive-like behaviors (157). The use of dopamine D4 receptor agonists or antagonists caused alterations in depression-like behavioral responses, and different doses showed opposite results (158). The analyses of dopamine neurotransmission-related proteins in patients with MDD also showed the implication of D1Rs in mediating antidepressant responses (159).
Serotonergic system
There are seven groups of 5-HT receptors (1–7), and approximately 15 subtypes are involved in the regulation of neuronal activity and multiple behaviors (160). Peripheral administration of the respective agonists activates 5-HT 2A receptors located mainly in astrocytes and 5-HT 2C receptors located in neuronal cells, which induced mixed excitatory/inhibitory effects in LHb neurons (161). Importantly, blocking 5-HT 2A receptors within the LHb has been shown to inhibit hyperexcitable LHb in depressive states (161). Activation of presynaptic 5-HT 1B receptors decreased excitatory inputs to the LHb (162). This was likely due to their differential distribution. The activation of 5-HT receptors, including 2C, 4, and 7 subtypes, was shown to induce increased discharge activity in LHb neurons, lower monoamine levels in related brain regions, and increase depressive-like behaviors in a PD rat model (163–165). According to the functions of presynaptic 5-HT 1B receptors, apart from other subtypes, 5-HT receptors postsynaptically or presynaptically localized may have different functions.
Opioid system
The habenula complex is the predominant site of expression of the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) (132, 166, 167). After selective excitation of MOR, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in rats showed inhibition of LHb neurons via postsynaptic hyperpolarization and presynaptic inhibition of glutamate release (168). From a functional perspective, the latest study indicated that nociceptive stimuli activated the LPO projection to the LHb, producing hyperalgesia and related aversive emotions, which negative emotions can be strongly inhibited by specific activation of the LHb MOR, leading to the mitigation of the above symptoms (169). This showed that the LHb MOR function improves negative emotional experiences in persistent neuropathic pain.
The kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) was also detected in the LHb (170). Functional KOR signaling in the LHb was first discovered by Simmons et al. There is bidirectional modulation of KOR in LHb neuronal excitability in two types of neuron subpopulations by altering presynaptic glutamate release and presynaptic GABA release (171). This modulation relies on intact fast synaptic transmission and is inhibited by decreased KOR expression induced by early life stress (171). The LHb is a critical brain region for negative emotions during opioid abstinence (172). As one of the antireward-aversion centers, the habenula drives negative emotions induced by opioid withdrawal. Opioid receptor activation supports the antidepressant effects of ketamine (173).
Molecular mechanisms of lateral habenula activity regulation and synaptic function in depression
Depression-related neuropeptides in lateral habenula
Neuropeptide Y
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a peptide neuromodulator encompassing five histologic subtypes. It is the most prevalent and extensively distributed neuropeptide in the mammalian brain and plays an essential role in depression and stress (174, 175). Activation of neuropeptide Y1 receptors leads to inhibition of excitatory neurotransmission in the vast majority of LHb neurons via the phospholipase C/protein kinase C-dependent pathway, while potentiation occurs in a small population of neurons (176, 177). Despite this overall inhibitory activity, whether NPY in the LHb can suppress hyperactive LHb to improve depressive symptoms remains to be investigated. In fact, NPY expression has been detected in widely upstream regions of the LHb, although the current results do not provide evidence that NPY modulates synaptic strength and upstream projections (178).
Galanin
Multi-species anatomical studies have shown the distribution of ganglion-like immunoreactive fibers in the habenula (179, 180). Galanin (1–15) can improve the antidepressant-like effects of fluoxetine in an olfactory bulbectomy model of depression in rats, accompanied by activation of a functional network that includes the LHb, VTA, and DRN (181).
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide
The neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is expressed in a small population of neurons located in the LHb (182). Chemically selective activation of PACAP-expressing neurons in the LHb can reduce fear and anxiety-associated behaviors (183). This is different from the activation effect of most LHb neurons, which is likely related to internal inhibition of the LHb. PACAP may be expressed in GAD2-expressing LHb neurons, which have been confirmed to inhibit the activity of most LHb neurons (129, 184). Given the above, PACAP might be a good breakthrough point in determining internal inhibition in the LHb.
Depression-related molecular in lateral habenula
Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II
Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) regulates synaptic transmission mainly by postsynaptic mechanisms that can be activated by physical stress (185). CaMKII promotes the phosphorylation of S831 in the GluR1 subunit (186, 187) and recruits AMPAR at synapses by inhibiting the diffusion of surface AMPARs at synaptic sites (188). Enhanced AMPAR upregulates glutamatergic synaptic transmission and LHb activity. Numerous studies have shown that upregulation of LHb βCaMKII could cause depressive-like symptoms in rodents, including learned helpless rats (17) and thyroidectomy rats (189), and alcohol-withdrawal rats (187). Inhibition of αCaMKII neurons in the LHb improves depressive symptoms (18). In summary, as the hallmark of LHb activation, CaMKII and LHb activities are tightly linked.
High-frequency stimulation, similar to burst firing, might open the Ca2+-permeable NMDA receptor channel, leading to the elevation of postsynaptic Ca2+/CaM complex concentration and enhancement of CaMKII function (186). More importantly, due to the persistence of kinase function activity, CaMKII participation might transform transient action potentials or burst firing into LTP, potentially an underlying mechanism of long-standing depressive symptoms in MDD (190).
Endocannabinoids
As an important signaling molecule in emotion regulation and synaptic transmission, endocannabinoids (eCB) decrease presynaptic glutamate release probability in the LHb (191). After chronic and intermittent cannabinoid receptor agonist administration, the mouse habenula showed a decrease in cerebral metabolism and weakened functional connectivity with upstream regions, mainly the PFC and basal ganglia (192). This weakened the strength of excitatory projections from these regions to the LHb. In addition to the decrease in excitatory input, another mechanism of eCB-dependent inhibition of activity is an increase in the probability of presynaptic GABA release, which depends on eCB-CB1 receptor signaling (193). More specifically, the expression of CB1Rs in VTA GABAergic neurons allows eCB signaling to regulate inhibitory inputs to the LHb (194). The LHb synapses are repressively regulated in the normal state and are presented as LTD. In summary, similar to GABABRs, LHb eCB signaling maintains LTD via regulatory disynaptic projections during physiological states. LHb eCB signaling is expressed in astrocytes in addition to neurons and has been identified as a new therapeutic strategy for MDD (195).
A previous study indicated that low- and moderate-frequency stimulations maintain eCB-dependent LTD, which likely corresponding to silent or tonic firing during the LHb resting state (191). Exposure to an extreme stressor disturbs eCB-dependent LTD, which could be explained by the fact that LHb neurons produce burst firing after activation, predominantly by aversive or stressful stimuli. Synaptic transmission subsequently transforms from eCB-dependent and NMDAR-dependent LTD to CaMKII-dependent LTP. Recovery of eCB-dependent LTD after αCaMKII inhibition supports this hypothesis (191). These conjectures could associate the electrophysiological properties of the LHb and synaptic plasticity and could be interpreted as one of the possible roles of LHb burst firing. However, as logical as these conjectures, insufficient support for this possibility is currently lacking.
Summary and future perspectives
This review provides a comprehensive view of the role of LHb in the mechanisms of depression (Figure 3). Stress likely preferentially activates upstream regions and produces anomalous projections to the LHb, leading to presynaptic and postsynaptic events through the action of various neurotransmitter receptors. This results in postsynaptic action potentials, mainly burst firing in the LHb neurons, in turn, driving sustained neuronal activation, which induces physiological changes at the molecular level. Subsequently, overactive projecting neurons in the LHb mediate dysfunctional inhibition of monoaminergic nuclei. These changes contribute to the dysfunctional homeostasis of monoamine levels in the brain. More importantly, synaptic plasticity and adaptive modulation of receptors and related molecules transform temporary firing into persistent overactivity, which produces prolonged symptoms of depression. In addition, most secondary depressive symptoms caused by chronic pain, substance use disorders, and PD can be attributed to aversive activation or depletion of monoamines in the LHb, which increases the difficulty of treating depression. Some specific regions, including the PAG, LC, CeA, and DRN, perhaps receive pain signals and transmit signals to LHb, resulting in pain-related negative emotion. The dysregulation of projections between LHb and the VTA/SNc, particularly subsequent dopaminergic-system dysregulation, might be the crucial point of PD-induced depression symptoms.
Figure 3. A summary figure of the LHb variations and related mechanisms in depression is discussed in this review. Stress and other factors act on upstream regions. The anomalous projections from the upstream regions to LHb acts on various neurotransmitter receptors in LHb neurons. This results in neural excitation and burst firing in LHb neurons. Subsequently, overactive projecting neurons in LHb mediate dysfunction in monoaminergic nuclei via direct or indirect projections. Moreover, these downstream regions also project to LHb or its upstream regions, which are connected to form a network of neural projections. All the above factors eventually culminate in depressive-like symptoms in rodents. Related molecules and neuropeptides act on input neurons, receptors, and neurons in LHb and play different regulatory roles in the pathological processes of depression. The functional significance of parts of the regions remain uncertain are not represented in figure.
Given LHb has been suggested as a key node in the pathological processes of depression, a growing number of researches are devoted to exploring new treatment strategies acting on LHb. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the LHb has received increasing attention since it showed excellent efficacy on patients with treatment-resistant depression (196). LHb DBS has been confirmed that can improve depressive-like behaviors through heightened levels of monoamines (197), enhanced synaptic efficacy (198), and the regulation of depression-related molecular (199). Notably, similar to the complex effect of stress on LHb, DBS potentially alters the functional connectivity networks centered on LHb (200). This presented paper contributes to expanding our understanding of LHb DBS in more aspects. Meanwhile, studies on LHb DBS provide a clear basis for better elucidating the pathogenesis of LHb in depression.
The neural connections between the LHb and different nuclei mediate different mood symptoms. According to various behavioral methods in studies mentioned in section “Functional synaptic circuits related to depression symptoms,” we summarize mainly depression-like behaviors dominated by the LHb in different neural circuits (Figure 4). These input and output neurons are likely to be targeted to a particular subset of the LHb. It should be noted that we observed the complexity of functional cell subpopulations in LHb neurons. Specific molecular markers, such as parvalbumin, enable their identification. The functional identification of a subpopulation of these neurons is required. Through a systematic review, we expect to contribute to the accurate delineation of pathological processes in the LHb and the screening of therapeutic targets for depression.
Figure 4. A summary figure of specific mood symptoms dominated by the LHb in different neural circuits. According to specific behavioral manifestations in studies on LHb circuits, we summarize different mainly depressive symptoms mediated by the neural projections between the LHb and different nuclei, including anhedonia, social disorders, behavioral despair, aggressive behaviors, appetite loss, and anxiety.
Author contributions
G-MZ wrote the manuscript. WP, W-QC, and H-YW reviewed the literature. WP and W-QC modified the language. G-MZ and H-YW made contributions to the drawing of the figures and table and the revision of the manuscript. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.
Funding
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82001190), National Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (Nos. ZR2021LZY016 and ZR2020MH348), and Science and Technology Foundation of Shandong Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. 2020Q035).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s note
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Keywords: lateral habenula, physiopathology, depression, functional projections, synaptic transmission
Citation: Zhang G-M, Wu H-Y, Cui W-Q and Peng W (2022) Multi-level variations of lateral habenula in depression: A comprehensive review of current evidence. Front. Psychiatry 13:1043846. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1043846
Received: 14 September 2022; Accepted: 13 October 2022;
Published: 28 October 2022.
Edited by:
Antoine Bechara, University of Southern California, United StatesReviewed by:
Qiuqin Han, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, ChinaNaili Wei, First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, China
Copyright © 2022 Zhang, Wu, Cui and Peng. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Wen-Qiang Cui, d3FjdWkxNkBmdWRhbi5lZHUuY24=; Wei Peng, cGVuZ3dlaTA2MjVAMTYzLmNvbQ==