Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
17
Published: Feb. 14, 2024
The
central
amygdala
(CeA)
is
crucial
in
integrating
sensory
and
associative
information
to
mediate
adaptive
responses
emotional
stimuli.
Recent
advances
genetic
techniques
like
optogenetics
chemogenetics
have
deepened
our
understanding
of
distinct
neuronal
populations
within
the
CeA,
particularly
those
involved
fear
learning
memory
consolidation.
However,
challenges
remain
due
overlapping
markers
complicating
neuron
identification.
Furthermore,
a
comprehensive
molecularly
defined
cell
types
their
projection
patterns,
which
are
essential
for
elucidating
functional
roles,
still
developing.
advancements
transcriptomics
starting
bridge
these
gaps,
offering
new
insights
into
dynamics
CeA
neurons.
In
this
review,
we
provide
an
overview
expanding
research,
encompassing
recent
developments
current
trends.
We
also
discuss
how
novel
transcriptomic
approaches
redefining
setting
stage
studies.
Nature Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
26(12), P. 2237 - 2249
Published: Oct. 26, 2023
Abstract
The
amygdala
is
a
brain
region
primarily
associated
with
emotional
response.
use
of
genetic
markers
and
single-cell
transcriptomics
can
provide
insights
into
behavior-associated
cell
state
changes.
Here
we
present
detailed
cell-type
taxonomy
the
adult
mouse
during
fear
learning
memory
consolidation.
We
perform
RNA
sequencing
on
naïve
fear-conditioned
mice,
identify
130
neuronal
types
validate
their
spatial
distributions.
A
subset
all
transcriptionally
responsive
to
retrieval.
activated
engram
cells
upregulate
activity-response
genes
coordinate
expression
neurite
outgrowth,
synaptic
signaling,
plasticity
development.
known
previously
undescribed
candidate
learning.
Our
molecular
atlas
may
be
used
generate
hypotheses
unveil
neuron
neural
circuits
regulating
component
memory.
Cell Reports,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
42(2), P. 112069 - 112069
Published: Feb. 1, 2023
The
nucleus
accumbens
(NAc)
plays
an
important
role
in
motivation
and
reward
processing.
Recent
studies
suggest
that
different
NAc
subnuclei
differentially
contribute
to
reward-related
behaviors.
However,
how
is
encoded
individual
neurons
remains
unclear.
Using
vivo
single-cell
resolution
calcium
imaging,
we
find
diverse
patterns
of
encoding
the
medial
lateral
shell
subdivision
(NAcMed
NAcLat,
respectively).
Reward
consumption
increases
NAcLat
activity
but
decreases
NAcMed
activity,
albeit
with
high
variability
among
neurons.
heterogeneity
could
be
attributed
differences
their
synaptic
inputs
transcriptional
profiles.
Specific
optogenetic
activation
Nts-positive
promotes
positive
reinforcement,
while
Cartpt-positive
induces
behavior
aversion.
Collectively,
our
study
shows
organizational
subregions
provides
a
framework
for
future
dissection
physiological
pathological
conditions.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15(1)
Published: Jan. 8, 2024
Abstract
Compulsive
behaviors
are
observed
in
a
range
of
psychiatric
disorders,
however
the
neural
substrates
underlying
not
clearly
defined.
Here
we
show
that
basolateral
amygdala-dorsomedial
striatum
(BLA-DMS)
circuit
activation
leads
to
manifestation
compulsive-like
behaviors.
We
revealed
BLA
neurons
projecting
DMS,
mainly
onto
dopamine
D1
receptor-expressing
neurons,
largely
overlap
with
neuronal
population
responds
aversive
predator
stress,
widely
used
anxiogenic
stressor.
Specific
optogenetic
BLA-DMS
induced
strong
anxiety
response
followed
by
compulsive
grooming.
Furthermore,
developed
mouse
model
for
compulsivity
displaying
wide
spectrum
chronically
activating
circuit.
In
these
mice,
persistent
molecular
changes
at
synapses
were
causally
related
phenotypes.
Together,
our
study
demonstrates
involvement
emergence
enduring
via
its
synaptic
changes.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
13(1)
Published: Oct. 21, 2022
Abstract
The
nucleus
accumbens
(NAc)
is
critical
in
mediating
reward
seeking
and
also
involved
negative
emotion
processing,
but
the
cellular
circuitry
mechanisms
underlying
such
opposing
behaviors
remain
elusive.
Here,
using
recently
developed
AAV1-mediated
anterograde
transsynaptic
tagging
technique
mice,
we
show
that
NAc
neurons
receiving
basolateral
amygdala
inputs
(NAc
BLA
)
promote
positive
reinforcement
via
disinhibiting
dopamine
ventral
tegmental
area
(VTA).
In
contrast,
paraventricular
thalamic
PVT
innervate
GABAergic
lateral
hypothalamus
(LH)
mediate
aversion.
Silencing
synaptic
output
of
impairs
behavior,
while
silencing
or
→LH
pathway
abolishes
aversive
symptoms
opiate
withdrawal.
Our
results
elucidate
afferent-specific
circuit
architecture
controlling
