GR abnormalities also underlie mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, as dysfunction in GR and MR signaling leads to maladaptive stress responses, dendritic retraction, and impaired serotonin activity.418,419 GR dysregulation in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus has been linked to anxiety and depression-like behaviors in animal models. This evidence concerns the gene NR3C1 and depressive disorder.