A discrete population of neurons in the lateral amygdala is specifically activated by contextual fear conditioning.
There is no clear identification of the neurons involved in fear conditioning in the amygdala. To search for these neurons, we have used a genetic approach, the fos-tau-lacZ (FTL) mouse, to map functionally activated expression in neurons following contextual fear conditioning. We have identified a discrete population of neurons in the lateral amygdala that are activated specifically following learning. These neurons have the morphology of principal neurons of the amygdala, and are immunoreactive for glutamate. The highly specific localization of these neurons within the lateral amygdala suggests that these neurons may be a discrete population of neurons involved in fear learning.
Wilson
Yvette M
YM
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
Murphy
Mark
M
D000679:Amygdala / Q000166:cytology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000502:physiology*; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009474:Neurons / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D016875:tau Proteins; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D001616:beta-Galactosidase