Role of noradrenergic projections to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to fear-related stimuli in rats

Brain Research
Tatsushi Onaka, K Yagi

Abstract

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) receives dense noradrenergic projections from the brainstem and has been claimed to play a role in expression of a variety of stress responses. Fear-related stimuli suppress vasopressin and facilitate oxytocin release from the neurohypophysis and induce behavioral suppression. Here we investigated in male rats whether conditioned fear stimuli increase noradrenergic activity in the BNST and whether depletion of epinephrine content in the BNST prevents neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to fear stimuli. Environmental stimuli previously paired with electric footshocks increased the ratio of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol to norepinephrine contents in the BNST, suggesting that the stimuli activated noradrenergic projections to the BNST. 5-Amino-2, 4-dihydroxy-alpha-methylphenylethylamine, a neurotoxin relatively selective for noradrenergic fibers, when injected into the BNST 7 days before measurement, decreased the content of norepinephrine by 95% and that of dopamine or serotonin by about 50%. In the rats that received the neurotoxin, the suppressive vasopressin but not the augmentative oxytocin response to intermittent footshocks was abolished. In the experiments with condition...Continue Reading

Citations

Dec 11, 2002·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Lingling Zhu, Tatsushi Onaka
Dec 14, 2006·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Morris B GoldmanNadeem Hussain
Aug 4, 2010·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Andrew M PoulosMichael S Fanselow
Oct 22, 2010·American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology·Linda Rinaman
Sep 24, 2004·International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience·Josephine M JohnsMatthew McMurray
Oct 14, 2008·Stress : the International Journal on the Biology of Stress·C C CrestaniF M A Corrêa
Jun 23, 2015·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Sarah E Daniel, Donald G Rainnie
May 4, 2013·Journal of Applied Physiology·Michael H Chase
Feb 2, 2019·Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry·Mimi ShinB Jill Venton

❮ Previous
Next ❯

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.

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.