A discrete serotonergic circuit regulates vulnerability to social stress

Exposure to social stress and dysregulated serotonergic neurotransmission have both been implicated in the etiology of psychiatric disorders. However, the serotonergic circuit involved in stress vulnerability is still unknown. Here, we explored whether a serotonergic input from the dorsal raphe (DR) to ventral tegmental area (VTA) influences vulnerability to social stress. We identified a distinct, anatomically and functionally defined serotonergic subpopulation in the DR that projects to the VTA (5-HT(DR→VTA) neurons). Moreover, we found that susceptibility to social stress decreased the firing activity of 5-HT(DR→VTA) neurons. Importantly, the bidirectional manipulation of 5-HT(DR→VTA) neurons could modulate susceptibility to social stress. Our findings reveal that the activity of 5-HT(DR→VTA) neurons may be an essential factor in determining individual levels of susceptibility to social stress and suggest that targeting specific serotonergic circuits may aid the development of therapies for the treatment of stress-related disorders.