Phasic activation of locus ceruleus neurons by the central nucleus of the amygdala

The role of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeN) in modulating output of noradrenaline in the forebrain was evaluated by recording extracellular, single-unit activity from the noradrenergic nucleus locus ceruleus (LC) during stimulation of the CeN. Short high-frequency trains (200 Hz) delivered...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Journal of neuroscience Vol. 232; pp. 3491 - 3497
Main Authors Bouret, S., Duvel, A., Onat, S., Sara, S.J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Society for Neuroscience 2003
Subjects
Cognitive Sciences
Life Sciences
Neurons and Cognition
neuromodulation
amygdala central nucleus
locus ceruleus
electrophysiology
CRF
noradrenaline
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:The role of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeN) in modulating output of noradrenaline in the forebrain was evaluated by recording extracellular, single-unit activity from the noradrenergic nucleus locus ceruleus (LC) during stimulation of the CeN. Short high-frequency trains (200 Hz) delivered at 800 microA in the CeN evoked phasic responses in 90% of the neurons recorded in LC. Single pulses were also effective but less reliably. The responses were complex, multiphasic with an initial latency of 10-20 msec. This early peak was diminished or, in some cases, completely blocked by local or intracerebroventricular application of the corticotrophin releasing factor antagonist alpha helical CRF (9-41). The later excitatory peak and subsequent inhibition were not effected by the drug treatment. The results underline the reciprocal functional relationship between the amygdaloid complex and the LC and suggest that the LC might be an important "effector" of CeN activation during learning.
ISSN:0270-6474
1529-2401