Dopamine D3-Like Receptors Modulate Anxiety-Like Behavior and Regulate GABAergic Transmission in the Rat Lateral/Basolateral Amygdala

摘要: Central among the brain regions that regulate fear/anxiety behaviors is lateral/basolateral amygdala (BLA). BLA output tightly controlled by relative activity of two populations inhibitory GABAergic interneurons, local feedback cells distributed throughout nucleus, and feedforward found along lateral paracapsular border this subdivision. Recent studies suggest dopamine (DA) can modulate system, thus linking states with mesolimbic reward/attentional processes. However, precise dopaminergic mechanisms regulating neuron have not been fully explored. We therefore examined effects DA D3-like receptors on BLA-dependent anxiety-like behavior neurophysiology. After confirming presence within BLA, we microinjection a D3-selective antagonist into decreased expressed in both light/dark transition test elevated plus maze. Consistent this, vitro receptor activation selectively inhibits synaptic transmission at interneuron populations, no effect glutamatergic transmission. This inhibition result receptor-mediated, dynamin-dependent process presumably reflects endocytosis postsynaptic GABAA principal neurons. Because environmental cues alter release our data strongly DA, potentially acting through receptors, may suppress contribution processes modify expression BLA-related behaviors.