Amygdaloid metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 7 is involved in the acquisition of conditioned fear.

Full Abstract

The metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 7 (mGluR7) is presynaptically located and modulates transmitter release. An earlier study from our group demonstrated that systemic administration of N,N'-dibenzyhydryl-ethane-1,2-diamine dihydrochloride (AMN082), a selective allosteric mGluR7 agonist, attenuates the acquisition of conditioned fear measured by fear-potentiated startle. Aim of this study was to explore whether this effect is mediated by the basolateral amygdala, a crucial brain structure for acquisition of conditioned fear. Therefore, AMN082 was locally injected into the basolateral amygdala of rats and the effects of these injections on the acquisition of conditioned fear was measured. Our data clearly show that intra-amygdala injection of AMN082 impairs fear acquisition. This finding demonstrates that amygdaloid mGluR7 controls the learning of conditioned fear.

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Author information

Author/s: Siegl, Stephanie (S); Flor, Peter J (PJ); Fendt, Markus (M);

Affiliation: Animal Physiology, University of Tübingen, Germany.

Journal and publication information

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

Journal: Neuroreport (Neuroreport), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jul; vol 19 (issue 11) : pp 1147-50

Dates: Created 2008/07/03; Completed 2008/08/25;

PMID: 18596617, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acoustic Stimulation - methods
Amygdala - anatomy & histology; drug effects; physiology
Animals
Benzhydryl Compounds - administration & dosage; pharmacology
Conditioning, Classical - drug effects; physiology
Electroshock - methods
Extinction, Psychological - drug effects; physiology
Fear - drug effects; physiology; psychology

Injections - methods
Learning - drug effects; physiology
Male
Memory - drug effects; physiology
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate - agonists; physiology
Startle Reaction - drug effects; physiology

Associated Chemicals: Benzhydryl Compounds (0) ; N,N'-dibenzhydrylethane-1,2-diamine dihydrochloride (0) ; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate (0) ; metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (0)

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