These results suggest that CUMS-induced depression may be caused by the following molecular cascades, the upregulation of miRNA-15b-5p, miRNA-144-3p, miRNA-582-5p and miRNA-879-5p, the downregulation of mRNAs that encode GAD-67, VGAT and GAT-3 as well as the impairment of GABA synthesis, reuptake and release. The gene discussed is GAD1; the disease is major depressive disorder.