PINK1 deficiency is associated with increased deficits of adult hippocampal neurogenesis and lowers the threshold for stress-induced depression in mice.

•PINK1 loss and chronic stress jointly inhibit adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN).•AHN deficits per se do not cause abnormal affective behavior in PINK1−/− mice.•PINK1 deficiency lowers threshold for corticosterone-induced depression in mice.•PINK1−/− male mice show increased depressive behavior.•PINK1 loss causes reduced hippocampal GR expression after chronic restraint stress.