Moderate white light exposure enhanced spatial memory retrieval by activating a central amygdala-involved circuit in mice

• Published in: Communications biology Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 414
• Main Authors: Shang, MengJuan, Shen, MeiLun, Xu, RuoTong, Du, JingYu, Zhang, JiMeng, OuYang, Ding, Du, JunZe, Hu, JunFeng, Sun, ZhiChuan, Wang, BingXia, Han, Qian, Hu, Yang, Liu, YiHong, Guan, Yun, Li, Jing, Guo, GuoZhen, Xing, JunLing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 14.04.2023; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 13/51; 14/1; 14/10; 631/378/1595; 631/378/2649; 82; Adrenergic receptors; Amygdala; Amygdala - cytology; Amygdala - metabolism; Animal memory; Animals; Anxiety; Biology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Corticotropin-releasing hormone; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism; Dentate gyrus; Dentate Gyrus - cytology; Dentate Gyrus - metabolism; Life Sciences; Light; Locus coeruleus; Locus Coeruleus - cytology; Locus Coeruleus - metabolism; Maze Learning; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neural Pathways; Neurons; Norepinephrine; Norepinephrine - metabolism; Presynapse; Spatial Memory; Tyrosine 3-monooxygenase
• ISSN: 2399-3642; 2399-3642
• DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04765-7

Light exposure can profoundly affect neurological functions and behaviors. Here, we show that short-term exposure to moderate (400 lux) white light during Y-maze test promoted spatial memory retrieval and induced only mild anxiety in mice. This beneficial effect involves the activation of a circuit including neurons in the central amygdala (CeA), locus coeruleus (LC), and dentate gyrus (DG). Specifically, moderate light activated corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) positive (+) CeA neurons and induced the release of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) from their axon terminals ending in the LC. CRF then activated tyrosine hydroxylase-expressing LC neurons, which send projections to DG and release norepinephrine (NE). NE activated β-adrenergic receptors on CaMKIIα-expressing DG neurons, ultimately promoting spatial memory retrieval. Our study thus demonstrated a specific light scheme that can promote spatial memory without excessive stress, and unraveled the underlying CeA-LC-DG circuit and associated neurochemical mechanisms. A white light exposure scheme in mice activates amygdala circuitry and enhances spatial memory retrieval.