Restoring neurons in the almond body reveals anxiety in mice

Synaptic physiology laboratory, led by Juan Lerma at the Institute for Neurosciences (In), the common center of the Spanish research council (CSIC) and Miguel Hernández (UMH) Elche, found that a specific group of neurons in Amygdalia, the brain region involved in regulation of emotions, light a key role in conditions such as conditions, such as Depression, as well as social change and a change in social change. This study, published, shows that restoring the balance of neurons’ excitability in a specific tonsil area is enough to reverse these behaviors at the mice.

We already knew that the amygdala was involved in fear and fear, but now we have identified a specific population of neurons, whose unbalanced activity itself is sufficient to cause pathological behavior. “

Juan Lerma, Institute for Neurosciences (In), common center of the Spanish research council (CSIC)

His team used a genetically modified mouse model to overexpressed the gene, thus increasing the number of glutamate receptors of the Gluk4 and raising neuronal excitability. These animals, developed by the same laboratory in 2015, show fear and social behavior, very similar to observed in people with disorders such as autism or schizophrenia.

Researchers have normalized the gene expression especially in the neurons of the amygdala basement, which restored communication with another group of inhibitory neurons in the centro -pantry centrolytical one known as “regular shooting neurons”. “This simple adaptation was enough to reverse the behavior associated with the anxiety and social deficit, which is unusual,” says álvaro García, the first author of the study.

The animals were evaluated by means of electrophysiological techniques and behavioral tests that measure anxiety, depression and social interaction in rodents, based on their preference in the study of open spaces or their interest in unknown mice. Then, using genetic engineering and modified viruses, scientists selectively corrected the change in the bazolo -iron tonsil and observed changes in both neuronal activity and animal behavior.

They also applied the same procedure for wild mouse that showed internal anxiety, and also effectively reduced their fear. “This confirms our findings and gives us confidence that the mechanism we identified is not exclusive to a specific genetic model, but it can be a general principle how emotions are regulated in the brain,” adds Lerma.

Some behavioral deficits, such as the memory of objects recognizing, have not been solved, which suggests that other areas of the brain, such as a hippocampus, may also be involved in these disorders and remain uncorrected. The study opens the door to new therapeutic possibilities: “aiming at these specific neural circuits can become an effective and more located strategy for treating affective disorders,” sums up the researcher.

This work was possible thanks to the financing of the Spanish research agency (AEI)-the Homan Ministry of Science, innovation and universities, Excellence Excellence Severo Ochoa for research centers at the Institute of Neuroscience CSIC-AMH, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Generalitat Valenciana through Promteo and CIPROM programs.