Extinction of auditory fear conditioning requires MAPK/ERK activation in the basolateral amygdala.

Full Abstract

Whereas the neuronal substrates underlying the acquisition of auditory fear conditioning have been widely studied, the substrates and mechanisms mediating the acquisition of fear extinction remain largely elusive. Previous reports indicate that consolidation of fear extinction depends on the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular-signal regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signalling pathway and on protein synthesis in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Based on experiments using the fear-potentiated startle paradigm suggesting a role for neuronal plasticity in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) during fear extinction, we directly addressed whether MAPK/ERK signalling in the basolateral amygdala is necessary for the acquisition of fear extinction using conditioned freezing as a read-out. First, we investigated the regional and temporal pattern of MAPK/ERK activation in the BLA following extinction learning in C57Bl/6J mice. Our results indicate that acquisition of extinction is associated with an increase of phosphorylated MAPK/ERK in the BLA. Moreover, we found that inhibition of the MAPK/ERK signalling pathway by intrabasolateral amygdala infusion of the MEK inhibitor, U0126, completely blocks acquisition of extinction. Thus, our results indicate that the MAPK/ERK signalling pathway is required for extinction of auditory fear conditioning in the BLA, and support a role for neuronal plasticity in the BLA during the acquisition of fear extinction.

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Author information

Author/s: Herry, Cyril (C); Trifilieff, Pierre (P); Micheau, Jacques (J); Lüthi, Andreas (A); Mons, Nicole (N);

Affiliation: Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, CNRS UMR 5106, Université de Bordeaux I, Avenue des Facultés, 33405 Talence, France. cyril.herry(-atsign-)fmi.ch

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The European journal of neuroscience (Eur J Neurosci), published in France. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jul; vol 24 (issue 1) : pp 261-9

Dates: Created 2006/08/02; Completed 2006/09/05; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16882022, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acoustic Stimulation
Amygdala - enzymology; physiology
Animals
Butadienes - pharmacology
Conditioning, Operant
Extinction, Psychological
Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases - antagonists & inhibitors; metabolism
Fear

Learning
MAP Kinase Signaling System - drug effects
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Nitriles - pharmacology
Phosphorylation
Startle Reaction

Associated Chemicals: Butadienes (0) ; Nitriles (0) ; U 0126 (0) ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases (EC 2.7.1.37)

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