Figure 3.

Model of how chronic stress exposure induces changes in expression of epigenetic modifiers, which underlie a new steady state that is more vulnerable to subsequent challenges. In this model, adaptive changes occur in response to chronic stress, which include changes in the expression of epigenetic modifiers. These epigenetic modifiers give rise to local chromatin changes that underlie the altered transcriptional response of specific genes to a subsequent GC challenge. Together with other stress-induced changes, such as changes in neuronal structure and neurogenesis, these changes in chromatin underlie an altered state of enhanced vulnerability that arises due to the chronic stress exposure.