Amygdala NRG1-ErbB4 is critical for the modulation of anxiety-like behaviors.

ABSTRACT: Anxiety disorder is related to the pathophysiology of psychiatric diseases, including major depression, substance abuse, and schizophrenia. The amygdala is important for manifestation and modulation of anxiety. However, relatively little is known regarding the mechanisms that control the amygdala inhibitory activity that is involved in anxiety. We found that almost all ErbB4, which is the only autonomous receptor of neuregulin 1 (NRG1) in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), was expressed in GABAergic neurons. Endogenous NRG1-ErbB4 signaling pathway in the BLA could modulate anxiety-like behaviors and GABA release, whereas it had no effect on glutamatergic transmission. The administration of NRG1 into the BLA of high-anxiety mice alleviated their anxiety and enhanced GABAergic neurotransmission

SUBMITTER: Bi LL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4330511 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature