Research article summary (published 29 Nov 2006):

Induction of synchronous oscillatory activity in the rat lateral amygdala in vitro is dependent on gap junction activity.

Full Abstract

Synchronized and rhythmic activity within the amygdala is thought to play a pivotal role in the generation of fear- and anxiety-related behaviour. The aim here was to determine the validity of the in vitro amygdala slice preparation to investigate the generation of rhythmic activity similar to that observed in vivo. Extracellular population activity recorded from the lateral nucleus of the amygdala in vitro showed significant enhancement of activity within the theta-band frequency (3-9 Hz) in the presence of kainic acid (100 nm; n=18). Alterations in the patterns of oscillatory activity within the gamma frequency band (20-40 Hz) were observed in the presence of (RS)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (10 microm; n=7) or carbachol (50 microm; n=5). Theta frequency oscillatory activity was blocked in the presence of the gap junction blocker carbenoxolone (100 mm), whereas gamma frequency oscillatory activity showed increased variability in the dominant frequency of rhythmic activity. The results suggest that the neuronal circuitry of the amygdala in vitro is capable of generating and sustaining rhythmic activity and that intercellular communication via gap junctions may play a role in the synchronization of population activity underlying this oscillatory activity.

Author information

Author/s: Sinfield, James L (JL); Collins, Dawn R (DR);

Affiliation: MOAC Doctoral Training Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.

Grants: 073934 (Agency:Wellcome Trust)

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-Dec; vol 24 (issue 11) : pp 3091-5

Dates: Created 2006/12/12; Completed 2007/02/23; Revised 2007/08/13;

PMID: 17156370, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Action Potentials - drug effects; physiology Amygdala - anatomy & histology; drug effects; physiology Animals Anti-Ulcer Agents - pharmacology Biological Clocks - drug effects; physiology Carbenoxolone - pharmacology Cell Communication - drug effects; physiology Cholinergic Agonists - pharmacology Cortical Synchronization - drug effects Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists - pharmacology

Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists - pharmacology Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists - pharmacology Gap Junctions - drug effects; physiology Male Neural Pathways - anatomy & histology; drug effects; physiology Neurons - drug effects; physiology Organ Culture Techniques Rats Rats, Wistar Theta Rhythm - drug effects

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Associated Chemicals: Anti-Ulcer Agents (0) ; Cholinergic Agonists (0) ; Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists (0) ; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists (0) ; Carbenoxolone (5697-56-3)

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