The Journal of Neuroscience, April 15, 2003, 23(8):3491
Phasic Activation of Locus Ceruleus Neurons by the Central
Nucleus of the Amygdala
Sebastien
Bouret1,
Adam
Duvel2,
Selim
Onat1, and
Susan J.
Sara1
1 Neuromodulation and Memory Processes, Unité
Mixte de Recherche 7102, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique,
Université Pierre & Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France, and
2 Department of Psychology, Beckman Institute for Advanced
Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
61801
The role of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeN) in modulating
output of noradrenaline in the forebrain was evaluated by recording
extracellular, single-unit activity from the noradrenergic nucleus
locus ceruleus (LC) during stimulation of the CeN. Short high-frequency trains (200 Hz) delivered at 800 µA in the CeN evoked
phasic responses in 90% of the neurons recorded in LC. Single pulses
were also effective but less reliably. The responses were complex,
multiphasic with an initial latency of 10-20 msec. This early peak was
diminished or, in some cases, completely blocked by local or
intracerebroventricular application of the corticotrophin releasing factor antagonist
helical CRF (9-41). The later
excitatory peak and subsequent inhibition were not effected by the drug
treatment. The results underline the reciprocal functional relationship
between the amygdaloid complex and the LC and suggest that the LC might be an important "effector" of CeN activation during learning.
Key words:
amygdala central nucleus; locus ceruleus; noradrenaline; CRF; neuromodulation; electrophysiology
Copyright © 2003 Society for Neuroscience 0270-6474/03/2383491-07$05.00/0