title: ASIC-dependent LTP at multiple glutamatergic synapses in amygdala network is required for fear memory.
abstract: Genetic variants in the human ortholog of acid-sensing ion channel-1a subunit (ASIC1a) gene are associated with panic disorder and amygdala dysfunction. Both fear learning and activity-induced long-term potentiation (LTP) of cortico-basolateral amygdala (BLA) synapses are impaired in ASIC1a-null mice, suggesting a critical role of ASICs in fear memory formation. In this study, we found that ASICs were differentially expressed within the amygdala neuronal population, and the extent of LTP at various glutamatergic synapses correlated with the level of ASIC expression in postsynaptic neurons. Importantly, selective deletion of ASIC1a in GABAergic cells, including amygdala output neurons, eliminated LTP in these cells and reduced fear learning to the same extent as that found when ASIC1a was selectively abolished in BLA glutamatergic neurons. Thus, fear learning requires ASIC-dependent LTP at multiple amygdala synapses, including both cortico-BLA input synapses and intra-amygdala synapses on output neurons.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Po-Han
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ta-Chun
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic and Behavioral Neuroscience, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine and JST, CREST, Maebashi 371-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuchio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yanagawa
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan [2] Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan [3] Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Chang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lien
mesh_terms: D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D000679:Amygdala / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D059330:GABAergic Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D007858:Learning; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C568267:ASIC1 protein, mouse; D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels