Peptide signaling in the paraventricular thalamus contributes to disrupted adult reward behaviors after early-life adversity

Early-life adversity (ELA) is strongly linked to emotional disorders characterized by dysregulated reward behaviors including diminished motivation for and enjoyment of rewards (anhedonia). However, how transient ELA leads to enduring disruptions of reward behaviors remains unclear. Using activity-dependent genetic labeling during ELA, we previously found that the paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) uniquely distinguishes ELA from typical rearing, and inhibiting ELA-activated PVT cells in adult ELA mice rescued reward behaviors in a sex-specific manner. However, the cellular mechanisms by which ELA alters the function of PVT neurons enduringly, to impact adult reward behaviors is unresolved. Here, we probed potential gene expression mechanisms by assessing reward-induced gene translation selectively in early-life activated (TRAPed) PVT cells, and identified genes regulated by reward in a sex-specific way. Combining data- and hypothesis-driven approaches, we targeted the corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor type 1 (CRHR1) as potentially mediating ELA-induced disruptions of reward behaviors. We find that CRISPR-Cas9-mediated Crhr1 deletion in TRAPed-PVT cells restores typical reward behaviors in ELA mice. Our results provide insight into the developmental origin of mental illness and identify potentially powerful molecular targets for prevention or mitigation of the consequences of ELA on reward behaviors germane to human mental illness.