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Optogenetic and pharmacological activation of beta‐adrenergic receptor signaling in the basolateral amygdala promotes anxiety and aversive behavior
Author(s) -
Siuda Edward R,
AlHasani Ream,
McCall Jordan G,
Chang Steven D,
Anderson Sonya L,
Bruchas Michael R
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.1099.3
Subject(s) - optogenetics , anxiogenic , basolateral amygdala , neuroscience , amygdala , aversive stimulus , open field , stimulation , anxiety , receptor , psychology , biology , medicine , endocrinology , anxiolytic , psychiatry
Beta2 adrenergic receptors (B2ARs) are clinical targets for a variety of therapeutic indications, however the role and neural circuitry of these Gs‐signaling GPCRs in anxiety and other affective disorders remain unresolved. Here we investigated the role of B2AR signaling in negative affective behaviors including anxiety and aversion. First, utilizing behavioral pharmacology, we manipulated B2AR signaling within the basolateral amygdala (BLA) of C57/BL6 mice through infusion of agonists, antagonists and putative biased ligands. We then examined these effects in behavioral models of anxiety (open field test) and aversive behavior (place aversion). Second, chimeric rhodopsin and B2AR receptors (B2OptoXRs) were packaged into lenti‐viral vectors under a CaMKII promoter and injected into the BLA. Using real‐time place conditioning, we show that mice display a robust aversive response to the conditioning chamber compared to control mice following light stimulation. Further, utilizing the open field test (OFT), we found that when B2OptoXRs are stimulated in the BLA, mice display a dramatic reduction in the time spent in the center of the arena with no significant changes in locomotor activity. Taken together, these data support that activation of B2ARs in excitatory neurons of the BLA is sufficient to produce avoidance and anxiogenic‐like behavioral responses. Funded by NIDA: R00DA025182 and McDonnell Center for Systems Neuroscience (MRB)