title: Reciprocal activation/inactivation of ERK in the amygdala and frontal cortex is correlated with the degree of novelty of an open-field environment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) has been used to identify brain areas activated by exogenous stimuli including psychostimulant drugs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Assess the role of the amygdala in emotional responses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental manipulations were performed in which environmental familiarity was the variable. To provide the maximal degree of familiarity, ERK was measured after removal from the home cage and re-placement back into the same cage. To maximize exposure to an unfamiliar environment, ERK was measured following placement into a novel open field. To assess whether familiarity was the critical variable in the ERK response to the novel open field, ERK was also measured after either four or eight placements into the same environment. ERK quantification was carried out in the amygdala, frontal cortex, and the nucleus accumbens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After home cage re-placement, ERK activation was found in the frontal cortex and nucleus accumbens but was absent in the amygdala. Following placement in a novel environment, ERK activation was more prominent in the amygdala than the frontal cortex or nucleus accumbens. In contrast, with habituation to the novel environment, ERK phosphors declined markedly in the amygdala but increased in the frontal cortex and nucleus accumbens to the level observed following home cage re-placement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The differential responsiveness of the amygdala versus the frontal cortex and the nucleus accumbens to a novel versus a habituated environment is consistent with a reciprocal interaction between these neural systems and points to their important role in the mediation of behavioral activation to novelty and behavioral inactivation with habituation.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Pharmacology Group, Laboratory of Animal Morphology and Pathology, State University of North Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, 28013-600, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Frederico Velasco
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Sanguedo
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Pharmacology Group, Laboratory of Animal Morphology and Pathology, State University of North Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, 28013-600, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caio Vitor Bueno
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Pharmacology Group, Laboratory of Animal Morphology and Pathology, State University of North Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, 28013-600, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavia Regina Cruz
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, State University of North Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Richard Ian
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Samuels
authors.affiliation: Research and Development (151), VA Medical Center and SUNY Upstate Medical University, 800 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Pharmacology Group, Laboratory of Animal Morphology and Pathology, State University of North Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, 28013-600, RJ, Brazil. marinete@uenf.br.
authors.forename: Marinete Pinheiro
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Carrera
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004777:Environment; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants
keywords: Amygdala; ERK; Frontal cortex; Habituation; Locomotion; Novel environment