Anterior hypothalamic parvalbumin neurons are glutamatergic and promote escape behavior.

ABSTRACT: The anterior hypothalamic area (AHA) is a critical structure for defensive responding. Here, we identified a cluster of parvalbumin-expressing neurons in the AHA (AHA^PV) that are glutamatergic with fast-spiking properties and send axonal projections to the dorsal premammillary nucleus (PMD). Using in vivo functional imaging, optogenetics, and behavioral assays, we determined the role of these AHA^PV neurons in regulating behaviors essential for survival. We observed that AHA^PV neuronal activity significantly increases when mice are exposed to a predator, and in a real-time place preference assay, we found that AHA^PV neuron photoactivation is aversive. Moreover, activation of both AHA^PV neurons and the AHA^PV → PMD pathway trig

SUBMITTER: Laing BT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10529150 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature