title: Contrasting effects of pretraining, posttraining, and pretesting infusions of corticotropin-releasing factor into the lateral amygdala: attenuation of fear memory formation but facilitation of its expression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LA) is a crucial part of the neural circuitry underlying the formation and storage of memories established through fear conditioning. To investigate corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) contributions to fear memory in LA, the present experiments tested the effects of intra-LA infusions on the formation and expression of memory after Pavlovian fear conditioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  In experiment 1, CRF was infused bilaterally into LA of rats 1 hour before fear conditioning training. Two days later, rats were tested for conditioned stimulus (CS)-elicited freezing behavior in a distinct context. In experiment 2, rats were infused with CRF in LA immediately after auditory fear conditioning and then tested 2 days later. In experiment 3, rats were fear conditioned and then 2 days later infused with CRF in LA 1 hour before fear memory testing to assess effects on the expression of fear memory. Finally, we repeated the pretraining and pretesting experiments with the central nucleus of the amygdala infusions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rats given either pretraining or posttraining CRF infusions in LA showed dose-dependent suppression of CS-elicited freezing in the fear memory test session. In contrast, rats given pretesting CRF showed facilitation of CS-elicited freezing. Corticotropin-releasing factor infusions into the central nucleus of the amygdala had no effect when given before-training or testing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Corticotropin-releasing factor infusions into LA impair the consolidation of memory for fear conditioning but enhance the expression of pre-established fear memories. These findings may have important implications for understanding mechanisms underlying contributions of CRF to fear-related disorders.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA. isogawa@cns.nyu.edu
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isogawa
authors.forename: David E A
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: LeDoux
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004597:Electroshock; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects*; D046352:Freezing Reaction, Cataleptic / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone