Restoring Acid-sensing ion channel-1a in the amygdala of knock-out mice rescues fear memory but not unconditioned fear responses.
Acid-sensing ion channel-1a (ASIC1a) contributes to multiple fear behaviors, however the site of ASIC1a action in behavior is not known. To explore a specific location of ASIC1a action, we expressed ASIC1a in the basolateral amygdala of ASIC1a-/- mice using viral vector-mediated gene transfer. This rescued context-dependent fear memory, but not the freezing deficit during training or the unconditioned fear response to predator odor. These data pinpoint the basolateral amygdala as the site where ASIC1a contributes to fear memory. They also discriminate fear memory from fear expressed during training and from unconditioned fear. Furthermore, this work illustrates a strategy for identifying discrete brain regions where specific genes contribute to complex behaviors.
Coryell
Matthew W
MW
Neuroscience Program, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
Wunsch
Amanda M
AM
Haenfler
Jill M
JM
Allen
Jason E
JE
McBride
Jodi L
JL
Davidson
Beverly L
BL
Wemmie
John A
JA
D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels; D000679:Amygdala / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects; D004597:Electroshock; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018390:Gene Targeting; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology
C451263:2,4,5 trimethylthiazoline; C568267:ASIC1 protein, mouse; D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D015222:Sodium Channels; D013844:Thiazoles