Anisomycin infusion in amygdala impairs consolidation of odor aversion memory
Abstract
Conditioned odor aversion (COA) results from the association between a novel odor and a delayed visceral illness. Basolateral amygdala is crucial for COA learning but its importance in COA consolidation remains to be demonstrated. We investigated whether infusion of anisomycin, a protein synthesis inhibitor, in the basolateral amygdala impaired COA consolidation. COA was greatly impaired when anisomycin was infused immediately before odor-malaise pairing, but not between odor and malaise. This suggests that the formation of odor representation, rather than malaise integration, within the amygdala has been disrupted. Anisomycin infusion before acquisition did not affect short-term memory (tested 4 h after odor-malaise pairing) but dramatically impaired long-term COA memory (tested 3 days later). This indicates specific consolidation impairment. Control experiments indicated that anisomycin infusion did not affect amygdala functionality and olfactory perception and did not induce cell death in the amygdala. Moreover, anisomycin treatment induced an important decrease (65-70%) of LiCl-induced Fos protein expression in the basolateral and the central nuclei of the amygdala but not in adjacent piriform cortex indicating a reliable a...Continue Reading
References
Long-term stability of fear memory depends on the synthesis of protein but not mRNA in the amygdala.
Citations
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Amygdala: Sensory Processes
Amygdalae, nuclei clusters located in the temporal lobe of the brain, play a role in memory, emotional responses, and decision-making. Here is the latest research on sensory processes in the amygdala.
Adrenergic Receptors: Trafficking
Adrenergic receptor trafficking is an active physiological process where adrenergic receptors are relocated from one region of the cell to another or from one type of cell to another. Discover the latest research on adrenergic receptor trafficking here.
Amygdala and Midbrain Dopamine
The midbrain dopamine system is widely studied for its involvement in emotional and motivational behavior. Some of these neurons receive information from the amygdala and project throughout the cortex. When the circuit and transmission of dopamine is disrupted symptoms may present. Here is the latest research on the amygdala and midbrain dopamine.
Basal Forebrain & Food Avoidance
Neurons in the basal forebrain play specific roles in regulating feeding. Here are the latest discoveries pertaining to the basal forebrain and food avoidance.