Figure 2. Influence of stress on the morphology and proliferation of neurons and neurotrophic factor expression. Exposure to immobilization stress decreases the number and length of pyramidal cell apical dendrites, and the number of spines in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Stress also decreases the birth of new neurons and expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the adult hippocampus (HP). Images courtesy of Drs G. Aghajanian and R-J. Li.