Diverse glutamatergic inputs target spines expressing M1 muscarinic receptors in the basolateral amygdala: An ultrastructural analysis.

ABSTRACT: Although it is known that acetylcholine acting through M1 muscarinic receptors (M1Rs) is essential for memory consolidation in the anterior basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLa), virtually nothing is known about the circuits involved. In the hippocampus M1R activation facilitates long-term potentiation (LTP) by potentiating NMDA glutamate receptor (NMDAR) currents. The majority of NMDAR+ profiles in the BLa are spines. Since about half of dendritic spines of BLa pyramidal neurons (PNs) receiving glutamatergic inputs are M1R-immunoreactive (M1R+) it is possible that the role of M1Rs in BLa mnemonic functions also involves potentiation of NMDAR currents in spines. However, the finding that only about half of BLa spines are M1R+ suggests that this proposed mechanism may only apply to a su

SUBMITTER: McDonald AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6755062 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature