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Neurosteroid modulation of GABAergic neurotransmission in the central amygdala: a role for NMDA receptors.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wang, C; Marx, CE; Morrow, AL; Wilson, WA; Moore, SD
Published in: Neurosci Lett
March 26, 2007

The neurosteroid 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (allopregnanolone or ALLO) positively modulates GABA(A) receptors, an action that may contribute to the anxiolytic effects of ALLO. Recent evidence suggests that ALLO's anxiolytic effects appear to be mediated by the amygdala, a key neural structure for emotional and cognitive behaviors. However, little is known regarding ALLO effects on amygdala physiology. We therefore explored ALLO effects on GABA neurotransmission in the central nucleus (Ce) of the amygdala, a major output nucleus involved in fear and anxiety. We recorded evoked GABA(A) receptor-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) in Ce neurons using whole-cell patch clamp techniques. We observed that ALLO significantly reduced the amplitude of evoked GABA(A) receptor-mediated IPSCs. However, the effect of ALLO was occluded by the NMDA receptor antagonist D-APV. D-APV alone also reduced evoked IPSCs in Ce neurons. These results suggest that ALLO-induced reduction of GABAergic transmission in Ce appears to depend on neural network activity, possibly involving an NMDA receptor-mediated mechanism. These ALLO effects on GABAergic transmission in the central amygdala may play a role in mediating its anxiolytic actions.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Neurosci Lett

DOI

ISSN

0304-3940

Publication Date

March 26, 2007

Volume

415

Issue

2

Start / End Page

118 / 123

Location

Ireland

Related Subject Headings

  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Synaptic Transmission
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Pregnanolone
  • Picrotoxin
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Neurons
  • Membrane Potentials
 

Citation

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MLA
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Wang, C., Marx, C. E., Morrow, A. L., Wilson, W. A., & Moore, S. D. (2007). Neurosteroid modulation of GABAergic neurotransmission in the central amygdala: a role for NMDA receptors. Neurosci Lett, 415(2), 118–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2007.01.004
Wang, Chunsheng, Christine E. Marx, A Leslie Morrow, Wilkie A. Wilson, and Scott D. Moore. “Neurosteroid modulation of GABAergic neurotransmission in the central amygdala: a role for NMDA receptors.Neurosci Lett 415, no. 2 (March 26, 2007): 118–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2007.01.004.
Wang C, Marx CE, Morrow AL, Wilson WA, Moore SD. Neurosteroid modulation of GABAergic neurotransmission in the central amygdala: a role for NMDA receptors. Neurosci Lett. 2007 Mar 26;415(2):118–23.
Wang, Chunsheng, et al. “Neurosteroid modulation of GABAergic neurotransmission in the central amygdala: a role for NMDA receptors.Neurosci Lett, vol. 415, no. 2, Mar. 2007, pp. 118–23. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2007.01.004.
Wang C, Marx CE, Morrow AL, Wilson WA, Moore SD. Neurosteroid modulation of GABAergic neurotransmission in the central amygdala: a role for NMDA receptors. Neurosci Lett. 2007 Mar 26;415(2):118–123.
Journal cover image

Published In

Neurosci Lett

DOI

ISSN

0304-3940

Publication Date

March 26, 2007

Volume

415

Issue

2

Start / End Page

118 / 123

Location

Ireland

Related Subject Headings

  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Synaptic Transmission
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Pregnanolone
  • Picrotoxin
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Neurons
  • Membrane Potentials