title: Potentiation of GluN2C/D NMDA receptor subtypes in the amygdala facilitates the retention of fear and extinction learning in mice.
abstract: NMDA receptors are glutamate receptor ion channels that contribute to synaptic plasticity and are important for many forms of learning and memory. In the amygdala, NMDA receptors are critical for the acquisition, retention, and extinction of classically conditioned fear responses. Although the GluN2B subunit has been implicated in both the acquisition and extinction of conditioned fear, GluN2C-knockout mice show reduced conditioned fear responses. Moreover, D-cycloserine (DCS), which facilitates fear extinction, selectively enhances the activity of GluN2C-containing NMDA receptors. To further define the contribution of GluN2C receptors to fear learning, we infused the GluN2C/GluN2D-selective potentiator CIQ bilaterally into the basolateral amygdala (3, 10, or 30 μg/side) following either fear conditioning or fear extinction training. CIQ both increased the expression of conditioned fear 24 h later and enhanced the extinction of the previously conditioned fear response. These results support a critical role for GluN2C receptors in the amygdala in the consolidation of learned fear responses and suggest that increased activity of GluN2C receptors may underlie the therapeutic actions of DCS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Ogden
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Alpa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khatri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Traynelis
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology [2] Neuroscience Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Heldt
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008845:Microinjections; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009865:Oocytes; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: C552403:2-amino-3-methylimidazo(1,2-d)naphthalene; D001562:Benzimidazoles; C432823:NR2C NMDA receptor; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate