Regulation of neuronal plasticity and fear by a dynamic change in PAR1-G protein coupling in the amygdala.

ABSTRACT: Fear memories are acquired through neuronal plasticity, an orchestrated sequence of events regulated at circuit and cellular levels. The conventional model of fear acquisition assumes unimodal (for example, excitatory or inhibitory) roles of modulatory receptors in controlling neuronal activity and learning. Contrary to this view, we show that protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) promotes contrasting neuronal responses depending on the emotional status of an animal by a dynamic shift between distinct G protein-coupling partners. In the basolateral amygdala of fear-naive mice PAR1 couples to Gαq/11 and Gαo proteins, while after fear conditioning coupling to Gαo increases. Concurrently, stimulation of PAR1 before conditioning enhanced, but afterwards it inhibited firing of basal amygdala neu

SUBMITTER: Bourgognon JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3690134 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature