Molecular roadmap of the healthy stress response in the mouse hippocampus

Abstract

The acute stress response mobilizes energy to meet situational demands and re-establish homeostasis. However, little is known about the nature and dynamics of the underlying molecular cascades. We used a brief forced swim exposure to trigger a strong stress response in mice, which transiently increases anxiety, but does not lead to lasting maladaptive behavioral changes. Using multiomic profiling we characterize the stress-induced molecular events in the hippocampus over time, across molecular scales, and down to the level of cell types and single cells. Our results unveil the complexity and specificity of the healthy stress response, with widespread changes in protein phosphorylation and gene transcription, but tightly regulated protein translation. All observed molecular events resolve efficiently within 4 hours after initiation of stress. The data are accessible through an interactive web portal, creating an extensive molecular resource that will help understand how stress impacts brain function in health and disease.