Abstract

Stress has profound effects on brain structure and function, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Recent studies imply that neuronal cell adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin superfamily — NCAM and L1 — are important mediators of the effects of stress on the brain. Chronic stress regimes that lead to hippocampal atrophy and spatial-learning impairment in rodents simultaneously induce a pattern of changes in cell adhesion molecule expression that fits with a role for these molecules in stress-induced neuronal damage and neuroprotective mechanisms. These findings highlight cell adhesion molecules as potential therapeutic targets to treat stress-related cognitive disturbances.

Author affiliations

1. Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, EPFL, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
   Email: carmen.sandi@epfl.ch

MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS

These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.