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Regulation of emotional memory by hydrogen sulfide: role of GluN2B‐containing NMDA receptor in the amygdala
Author(s) -
Wang CanMing,
Yang YuanJian,
Zhang JieTing,
Liu Jue,
Guan XinLei,
Li MingXing,
Lu HaiFeng,
Wu PengFei,
Chen JianGuo,
Wang Fang
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/jnc.12961
Subject(s) - amygdala , long term potentiation , nmda receptor , fear conditioning , neuroscience , hippocampus , psychology , chemistry , glutamate receptor , receptor , biochemistry
Abstract As an endogenous gaseous molecule, hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) has attracted extensive attention because of its multiple biological effects. However, the effect of H 2 S on amygdala‐mediated emotional memory has not been elucidated. Here, by employing Pavlovian fear conditioning, an animal model widely used to explore the neural substrates of emotion, we determined whether H 2 S could regulate emotional memory. It was shown that the H 2 S levels in the amygdala of rats were significantly elevated after cued fear conditioning. Both intraamygdala and systemic administrations of H 2 S markedly enhanced amygdala‐dependent cued fear memory in rats. Moreover, it was found that H 2 S selectively increased the surface expression and currents of NMDA‐type glutamate receptor subunit 2B (GluN2B)‐containing NMDA receptors ( NMDAR s) in lateral amygdala of rats, whereas blockade of GluN2B‐containing NMDAR s in lateral amygdala eliminated the effects of H 2 S to enhance amygdalar long‐term potentiation and cued fear memory. These results demonstrate that H 2 S can regulate amygdala‐dependent emotional memory by promoting the function of GluN2B‐containing NMDAR s in amygdala, suggesting that H 2 S‐associated signaling may hold potential as a new target for the treatment of emotional disorders.In our study, the effect of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) on amygdala‐mediated emotional memory was investigated. It was found that H 2 S could enhance amygdala‐dependent emotional memory and long‐term potentiation (LTP) in rats by selectively increasing the function of GluN2B‐containing NMDA receptors in the amygdala. These results suggest that H 2 S‐associated signaling may be a new target for the treatment of emotional disorders.