Neuroscience
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Dopaminergic signaling in the central nervous system regulates several aspects of animal behavior. In the dopaminergic circuits, there are two classes of neurons that can be differentiated by their expression of dopamine receptors, D1 or D2 receptors (D1Rs or D2Rs). Notably, Ca2+-permeable GluA2-lacking glutamate AMPA receptors (CP-AMPARs) are important for gating synaptic plasticity and gene expression in neurons, and their expression particularly in the striatum affects various forms of animal behavior. ⋯ Both D1R and D2R GluA2 KO mice consumed less food compared with control animals, while D1R GluA2 KO animals showed significantly more weight gain. Finally, D1R GluA2 KO induced anti-depressant effects, while GluA2-lacking AMPAR expression in D2R neurons promoted depression-like behavior. Taken together, GluA2-lacking CP-AMPAR expression in D1R and D2R neurons differentially affects animal behavior.
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Around 75% of neurons in laminae I-II of the mouse dorsal horn are excitatory interneurons, and these are required for normal pain perception. We have shown that four largely non-overlapping excitatory interneuron populations can be defined by expression of the neuropeptides neurotensin, neurokinin B (NKB), gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and substance P. In addition, we recently identified a population of excitatory interneurons in glabrous skin territory that express dynorphin. ⋯ We confirm this, by showing that inhibitory Cre-expressing cells in a Tac1Cre knock-in mouse are calretinin-immunoreactive. Interestingly, there is evidence that these cells express low levels of peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase, an enzyme required for maturation of neuropeptides. This may explain our previous finding that although the substance P precursor preprotachykinin A can be detected in some inhibitory interneurons, very few inhibitory axonal boutons are immunoreactive for substance P.
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Debilitating and persistent fear memories can rapidly form in humans following exposure to traumatic events. Fear memories can also be generated and studied in animals via Pavlovian fear conditioning. The current study was designed to evaluate basolateral amygdala complex (BLC) involvement following the formation of different fear memories (two contextual fear memories and one adjusted auditory fear memory). ⋯ The adjusted auditory fear conditioning procedure produced memories to a tone, but not to a context. This group, where no contextual fear was present, had a significant reduction in BLC IEG expression. These data suggest background contextual fear memories, created in standard auditory fear conditioning protocols, contribute significantly to increases in amygdala activation.
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The α3 Na+,K+-ATPase (α3NKA) is one of four known α isoforms of the mammalian transporter. A deficiency in α3NKA is linked to severe movement control disorders. Understanding the pathogenesis of these disorders is limited by an incomplete knowledge of α3NKA expression in the brain as well as the challenges associated with identifying living cells that express the isoform for subsequent electrophysiological studies. ⋯ Fluorescence was not detected in astrocytes or white matter areas. ZsGreen1-positive neurons were readily observed in fresh (unfixed) brain sections, which were amenable to patch-clamp recordings. Thus, the α3NKA-ZsGreen1 mouse model provides a powerful tool for studying the distribution and functional properties of α3NKA-expressing neurons in the brain.