title: Sensory inputs to intercalated cells provide fear-learning modulated inhibition to the basolateral amygdala.
abstract: Increasing evidence suggests that parallel plastic processes in the amygdala involve inhibitory elements to control fear and extinction memory. GABAergic medial paracapsular intercalated cells (mpITCs) are thought to relay activity from basolateral nucleus (BLA) and prefrontal cortex to inhibit central amygdala output during suppression of fear. Recently, projection diversity and differential behavioral activation of mpITCs in distinct fear states suggest additional functions. Here, we show that mpITCs receive convergent sensory thalamic and cortical inputs that undergo fear learning-related changes and are dynamically modulated via presynaptic GABAB receptors recruited by GABA released from the mpITC network. Among mpITCs, we identify cells that inhibit but are also mutually activated by BLA principal neurons. Thus, mpITCs take part in fear learning-modulated feedforward and feedback inhibitory circuits to simultaneously control amygdala input and output nuclei. Our findings place mpITCs in a unique position to gate acquired amygdala-dependent behaviors via their direct sensory inputs.
authors.affiliation: Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Straße 25, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Straße 25, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Graduate School of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, International Max Planck Research School, University of Tübingen, Österbergstrasse 3, 72074 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Asede
authors.affiliation: Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Straße 25, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Straße 25, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.affiliation: Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lüthi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Innsbruck Medical University, Peter Mayr Straße 1a, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferraguti
authors.affiliation: Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Straße 25, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Straße 25, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. Electronic address: ingrid.ehrlich@uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D066272:Basolateral Nuclear Complex / Q000502:physiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000378:metabolism*; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018079:Receptors, GABA