Optogenetic silencing of a corticotropin-releasing factor pathway from the central amygdala to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis disrupts sustained fear.

ABSTRACT: The lateral central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA_L) and the dorsolateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST_DL) coordinate the expression of shorter- and longer-lasting fears, respectively. Less is known about how these structures communicate with each other during fear acquisition. One pathway, from the CeA_L to the BNST_DL, is thought to communicate via corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), but studies have yet to examine its function in fear learning and memory. Thus, we developed an adeno-associated viral-based strategy to selectively target CRF neurons with the optogenetic silencer archaerhodopsin tp009 (CRF-ArchT) to examine the role of CeA_L CRF neurons and projections to the BNST_DL during the acquisition of context

SUBMITTER: Asok A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5656568 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature