c-fos expression in the amygdala: in vivo antisense modulation and role in anxiety.
1. The amygdaloid complex is a key structure in mechanisms of fear and anxiety. Expression of the immediate-early gene c-fos has been reported in the central nucleus of the amygdala following various stressors, but the functional role of this phenomenon has remained unknown. 2. c-fos expression was observed in the central nucleus when rats were subjected to a pharmacologically validated animal model of anxiety, the Vogel conflict test, but not after mere exposure to the test apparatus. Bilateral amygdala injection of a 15-mer phosphorothioate c-fos antisense oligodeoxynucleotide prior to testing blocked conflict-induced c-fos expression and had behavioral effects similar to those of established antianxiety drugs. 3. Separate experiments determined that antisense treatment did not affect conflict behavior by acting on shock thresholds or drinking motivation. 4. These findings provide evidence that neuronal activation and c-fos induction in the amygdala may be of importance for mechanisms of fear and anxiety.
Möller
C
C
Department of Pharmacology, Göteborg University, Mölndal, Sweden.
Bing
O
O
Heilig
M
M
D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004327:Drinking Behavior; D004597:Electroshock; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016762:Genes, fos; D007267:Injections; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014868:Water Deprivation
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone