The serotonergic projection from the median raphe nucleus to the ventral hippocampus is involved in the retrieval of fear memory through the corticotropin-releasing factor type 2 receptor.

ABSTRACT: Several different studies have separately established that serotonin, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptors, and the hippocampus are involved in fear memory retrieval. The main aim of this study is to connect these separate studies. To assess the levels of anxiety/fear, we used the contextual fear-conditioning test and the elevated plus maze test as memory-dependent and memory-independent tasks, respectively. We injected CRF receptor antagonists or vehicle into the median raphe nucleus (MRN) 10 min before behavioral tests. As a result, 1000 ng of astressin 2B (CRF(2) receptor antagonist), but not 250 ng of antalarmin (CRF(1) receptor antagonist), significantly suppressed the expression rate of freezing behavior in the contextual fear-conditioning test. However, in the elevated plu

SUBMITTER: Ohmura Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3055345 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature