Immunocytochemistry for NR2A Subunit of NMDA Receptors in Hippocampal Neurons

Stress in vivo, and CRH application in vitro, cause dendritic spine loss in hippocampal pyramidal neurons. This loss of spines, and subsequent synapses, is likely the underlying mechanism through which severe stress disrupts learning and memory. CRH, in combination with neuronal activity and NMDA receptor activation, recruits the actin destabilizing protein, calpain, to break down the actin cytoskeleton resulting in spine loss. Identifying the downstream signaling from CRH receptors could reveal potential therapeutic targets for diseases such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.