title: Neuropeptide S-mediated facilitation of synaptic transmission enforces subthreshold theta oscillations within the lateral amygdala.
abstract: The neuropeptide S (NPS) receptor system modulates neuronal circuit activity in the amygdala in conjunction with fear, anxiety and the expression and extinction of previously acquired fear memories. Using in vitro brain slice preparations of transgenic GAD67-GFP (Δneo) mice, we investigated the effects of NPS on neural activity in the lateral amygdala as a key region for the formation and extinction of fear memories. We are able to demonstrate that NPS augments excitatory glutamatergic synaptic input onto both projection neurons and interneurons of the lateral amygdala, resulting in enhanced spike activity of both types of cells. These effects were at least in part mediated by presynaptic mechanisms. In turn, inhibition of projection neurons by local interneurons was augmented by NPS, and subthreshold oscillations were strengthened, leading to their shift into the theta frequency range. These data suggest that the multifaceted effects of NPS on amygdaloid circuitry may shape behavior-related network activity patterns in the amygdala and reflect the peptide's potent activity in various forms of affective behavior and emotional memory.
authors: Institut für Physiologie, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Meis
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Stork
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Munsch
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007395:Interneurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D018698:Glutamic Acid