Estradiol shifts interactions between the infralimbic cortex and central amygdala to enhance fear extinction memory in female rats.

ABSTRACT: There is growing evidence that estradiol (E2) enhances fear extinction memory consolidation. However, it is unclear how E2 influences the nodes of the fear extinction network to enhance extinction memory. This study begins to delineate the neural circuits underlying the influence of E2 on fear extinction acquisition and consolidation in female rats. After fear conditioning (day 1), naturally cycling female rats underwent extinction learning (day 2) in a low-E2 state, receiving a systemic administration of either E2 or vehicle prior to extinction training. Extinction memory recall was then tested 24 hr later (day 3). We measured immediate early gene c-fos expression within the extinction network during fear extinction learning and extinction recall. During extinction learning, E2 treatment

SUBMITTER: Maeng LY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5120619 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature