GABAergic neurons in central amygdala contribute to orchestrating anxiety-like behaviors and breathing patterns.

ABSTRACT: Anxiety is characterized by dysregulated respiratory reactivity to emotional stimuli. The central amygdala (CeA) is a pivotal structure involved in processing emotional alterations, but its involvement in orchestrating anxiety-like behaviors and specific breathing patterns remains largely unexplored. Our findings demonstrate that the acute restraint stress (ARS) induces anxiety-like behaviors in mice, marked by prolonged grooming time and faster respiratory frequency (RF). Conversely, silencing GABAergic CeA neurons reduces post-ARS anxiety-like behaviors, as well as the associated increases in grooming time and RF. In actively behaving mice, stimulation of GABAergic CeA neurons elicits anxiety-like behaviors, concurrently prolongs grooming time, accelerates RF through a CeA-thalamic parav

SUBMITTER: Wang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11997173 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature