Figure 7. Summary of major findings.

Chronic unpredictable stress increases avoidance behaviors and stress-induced helplessness. Knocking down key enzymes involved in endogenous neurosteroid synthesis, 5α-reductase 1 and 2, in the BLA was sufficient to increase avoidance behaviors and stress-induced helplessness. Similarly, knocking down the primary site of action for neurosteroid signaling, δ-GABA_ARs, also increased avoidance behaviors and stress-induced helplessness. Conversely, overexpression of 5α-reductase 1 and 2 prevented the behavioral deficits following CUS, resulting in no change or even a reduction in avoidance behaviors or stress-induced helplessness compared to controls.