Adenosine A_2A Receptors in the Amygdala Control Synaptic Plasticity and Contextual Fear Memory.

ABSTRACT: The consumption of caffeine modulates working and reference memory through the antagonism of adenosine A_2A receptors (A_2ARs) controlling synaptic plasticity processes in hippocampal excitatory synapses. Fear memory essentially involves plastic changes in amygdala circuits. However, it is unknown if A_2ARs in the amygdala regulate synaptic plasticity and fear memory. We report that A_2ARs in the amygdala are enriched in synapses and located to glutamatergic synapses, where they selectively control synaptic plasticity rather than synaptic transmission at a major afferent pathway to the amygdala. Notably, the downregulation of A_2ARs selectively in the basolateral complex of the amygdala, using a lentivirus with a silencing shRNA (small hair

SUBMITTER: Simoes AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5061896 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature