Stress-induced impairment in fear discrimination is causally related to increased kynurenic acid formation in the prefrontal cortex

Rationale Stress is related to cognitive impairments which are observed in most major brain diseases. Prior studies showed that the brain concentration of the tryptophan metabolite kynurenic acid (KYNA) is modulated by stress, and that changes in cerebral KYNA levels impact cognition. However, the link between these phenomena has not been tested directly so far. Objectives To investigate a possible causal relationship between acute stress, KYNA, and fear discrimination. Methods Adult rats were exposed to one of three acute stressors—predator odor, restraint, or inescapable foot shocks (ISS)—and KYNA in the prefrontal cortex was measured using microdialysis. Corticosterone was analyzed in a subset of rats. Another cohort underwent a fear discrimination procedure immediately after experiencing stress. Different auditory conditioned stimuli (CSs) were either paired with foot shock (CS+) or were non-reinforced (CS−). One week later, fear was assessed by re-exposing rats to each CS. Finally, to test whether stress-induced changes in KYNA causally impacted fear discrimination, a group of rats that received ISS were pre-treated with the selective KYNA synthesis inhibitor PF-04859989. Results ISS caused the greatest increase in circulating corticosterone levels and raised extracellular KYNA levels by ~ 85%. The two other stressors affected KYNA much less (< 25% increase). Moreover, only rats that received ISS were unable to discriminate between CS+ and CS−. PF-04859989 abolished the stress-induced KYNA increase and also prevented the impairment in fear discrimination in animals that experienced ISS. Conclusions These findings demonstrate a causal connection between stress-induced KYNA increases and cognitive deficits. Pharmacological manipulation of KYNA synthesis therefore offers a novel approach to modulate cognitive processes in stress-related disorders.