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Effects of oxytocin microinjected into the central amygdaloid nucleus and bed nucleus of stria terminalis on maternal aggressive behavior in rats.

The central effect of oxytocin (OT) on the aggressive behavior of lactating rats was studied. Female rats are more aggressive than nonlactating resident females, vigorously attacking conspecific intruder male or females. This behavior is considered important for pup protection against infanticide. The present work aimed to test the effects on maternal aggressive behavior of OT infused into the central amygdaloid nucleus (CeM) or bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST). The surgeries for bilateral cannula implantation were performed between the 2nd and 4th postpartum day. Three days after the surgery, saline or OT was infused and 5 min later a male intruder was placed in the home-cage and the behaviors were videotaped for 10 min. The frequency of the aggressive behaviors and the duration of locomotion during the aggressive behavior test were measured. The latency to retrieve the pups was also evaluated. The results showed that OT injected into CeM (10 and 20 ng/nucleus) decreased frequency of biting and frontal attack while in the BNST (10 and 20 ng/nucleus) decreased the frequency of biting. No significant change on retrieval activity was detected. OT in CeM and BNST has an inhibitory effect on the aggressive behavior of lactating female rats.

Aggression↗

Increased dopamine release in vivo by estradiol benzoate from the central amygdaloid nucleus of Parkinson's disease model rats.

In addition to the dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal system, the properties of dopaminergic neurons in the mesolimbic system, such as the amygdala, are also of interest and importance because of their specific neuromodulatory effects in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Using the fast cyclic voltammetry (FCV) technique, we present evidence to indicate that electrically-evoked dopamine (DA) release from the amygdala, especially the central amygdaloid nucleus (CAN), of ovariectomized (OVX) female rats was significantly enhanced with increasing doses of estradiol benzoate (EB; 30, 50 and 100 microg/kg). Impaired DA release from the amygdala of an OVX rat PD model can also be increased by EB treatment (50 microg/kg) to a level similar to that of controls. The well established neuroprotective effects of estrogen may be beneficial for reducing the dysfunction of dopaminergic neurons in mesolimbic structures of rat PD models and PD patients.

Amygdala↗

Evidence for involvement of the neural pathway containing the peripheral vagus nerve, medullary visceral zone and central amygdaloid nucleus in neuroimmunomodulation.

It is now evident that a bidirectional communication network exists between the central nervous system (CNS) and immune system (IS). However, the way in which the IS passes inform to the brain is not quite clear.In the present study, one of the neural pathways involved in the cytokine-to-brain communication was investigated in the rat. This pathway starts at the vagal nerve projecting to the medullary visceral zone (MVZ), an arc-shape band from the dorsomedial to ventrolateral area in the middle-caudal segment of the medulla oblongata, and terminates at the central amygdaloid nucleus (Ce) which receives projections from large catecholaminergic neurons in the MVZ. Animals were randomly divided into two experimental groups. Triple-labeling was used in Group I animals to combine wheat germ aggulutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) retrograde tracing with anti-Fos and anti-tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunostaining. WGA-RP was stereotaxically injected into the unilateral Ce of the animals and, after a survival period of 48 h, intraperitoneal (IP) injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was performed. Seven kinds of labeled neurons were observed in the MVZ, namely, HRP-, Fos- or TH-singly-labeled neurons; Fos/HRP-, Fos/TH- or HRP/TH-doubly-labeled neurons; and Fos/HRP/TH-triply-labeled neurons. As for Group II animals, bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (SDV) or sham operation was performed, followed 4 weeks later by IP injection of LPS. The number of Fos-positive neurons within the Ce and MVZ was significantly lower (P<0.01) in rats having SDV when compared with those receiving sham operation. Our results suggest that part of the peripheral immune information can be conveyed through the vagus to the catecholaminergic neurons in the MVZ, where it is transported to the Ce. The MVZ is a neural relay station in the immune-to-brain communication and might play a significant role in neuroimmuno-modulation via the vagus-MVZ-Ce pathway.

Amygdala↗

[Brain central amygdaloid nucleus: cytoarchitechtonics, neuronal organization, connections].

This review describes different aspects of structural and functional organization of amygdaloid central nucleus (CN) in association with the findings indicating its involvement in the development of stress reactions and adaptive behavior in animals. The data on the distribution of neuropeptides, neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in CN are discussed. It is emphasized that CN appears at the earliest stages of amygdaloid formation, undergoes remodeling together with it and reflects the evolution of the whole amygdaloid. The detailed data are presented on the cytoarchitectonic of amygdaloid CN, its heteromorphism and subdivision into zones (subnuclei), based on the different methods of investigation and evaluation criteria. The neuronal organization of CN and its subnuclei is discussed, and the detailed description of neurons of different types is given according to their topography, cell body dimensions and shape, dendrite orientation and branching pattern, organization of spine apparatus and axon structure. The developmental features of amygdaloid CN in mammalian animal and human ontogenesis are considered. The analysis covering the literature data and the results of authors' own investigations indicates that CN functions not only as intraamigdaloid integrative center, but also as one of the major channels providing both afferent and efferent connections of amygdaloid with other brain structures.

Amygdala↗

Participation of the central amygdaloid nucleus in the response of adrenocorticotropin secretion to immobilization stress: opposing roles of the noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems.

Bilateral lesions of the amygdaloid central nucleus (ACE) significantly diminished the secretion of ACTH in response to immobilization stress. Stress is associated with increased noradrenergic activity in the ACE and in the anterior and lateral hypothalamic areas. In comparison with intact stressed animals, lesion of the ACE reduced the noradrenergic activity in response to stress within the anterior and lateral hypothalamic areas, the arcuate and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. These results support the hypothesis of a stimulatory role for the noradrenergic system in the ACE on ACTH secretion. Stress decreased dopaminergic activity in the ACE, the cortical nucleus of the amygdala, the dorsomedial and ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus and the ventral tegmental area. In comparison with intact stressed rats, lesion of the ACE reduced dopaminergic activity in the anterior and lateral hypothalamic areas. Our results support the hypothesis of an inhibitory role of the dopaminergic system, particularly in the ACE, on ACTH secretion. This study also indicates that, in the control of ACTH secretion in response to immobilization stress, the noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems act in opposition to one another in certain brain structures such as the anterior and lateral hypothalamic areas and the ACE.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Distribution and origin of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactive fibers in the central amygdaloid nucleus of the rat: an immunocytochemical analysis.

We studied the distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactive (VIPLI) fibers in the central amygdaloid (AC) nucleus of the rat, using indirect immunofluorescence and the origins of such fibers using a combination of retrograde tracing with immunocytochemistry. VIPLI fibers formed a dense fiber plexus in the lateral subdivision of the AC nucleus, but other subdivisions showed little immunoreactivity. Destruction of the supramammillary (SuM) region and the adjacent lateral hypothalamus, both of which contained a group of VIPLI neurons, resulted in the marked reduction of VIPLI fibers in the ipsilateral AC nucleus, indicating that many of the fibers in the AC nucleus originate from these two areas. This assumption was supported by the finding that injection of fast blue dye into the AC nucleus labeled the VIPLI neurons in the SuM region and lateral hypothalamus.

Amygdala↗

Simultaneous single unit recording in the medial nucleus of the medial geniculate nucleus and amygdaloid central nucleus throughout habituation, acquisition, and extinction of the rabbit's classically conditioned heart rate.

The present study examined single neuron activity in the medial nucleus of the medial geniculate (mMG) and amygdaloid central nucleus (ACe) simultaneously across several phases of differential heart rate conditioning (habituation, acquisition, and extinction). Within the same animals, the magnitude of mMG and ACe unit responses to two tone conditioned stimuli (CS) exhibited habituation, differential acquisition, and extinction. Neurons in each area developed a differential response latency to the CSs during acquisition, suggesting that mMG and ACe may be involved in changes of synaptic efficacy. Units in both areas rapidly developed a differential response magnitude to the CSs (< 6 acquisition trials), however, mMG units responded to the CSs with a shorter latency than ACe units across all phases of training. This suggests that unlearned and learned CS information may access mMG before ACe. These results are consistent with the notion that conditioning-induced plasticity which occurs in mMG may influence the conditioning-induced plasticity that occurs further downstream in the amygdala.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Corticotropin releasing factor neurons are innervated by calcitonin gene-related peptide terminals in the rat central amygdaloid nucleus.

The central nucleus of the rat amygdala (CeA) contains many corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) immunoreactive neurons. Previous studies have demonstrated that these CRF neurons project to brain stem regions responsible for modulation of autonomic outflow. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) terminals overlap the distribution of CRF cell bodies in the CeA. These CGRP terminals mainly originate from cell bodies that are located in the pontine parabrachial nucleus. The present study examined the possibility that CRF cell bodies are innervated by CGRP terminals. The results suggest that over 35% of the CRF neurons in the CeA are contacted by CGRP terminals as judged by the indiscernible distances between the terminals and cell bodies and or dendrites. In addition, a dual-labeled electron microscopic technique demonstrates that CGRP terminals form synaptic contacts with CRF cell bodies and dendrites. This suggests that CGRP neurons in the parabrachial nucleus can modulate the activity of CRF amygdaloid brain stem efferents. Previous studies have shown that CRF, when administered into the central nervous system, produces increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and plasma catecholamines. CGRP administration into the amygdala has been shown to have a similar effect on the autonomic nervous system. It is, therefore, possible that CGRP could exert these effects via an amygdaloid CRF pathway.

Amygdala↗

Stimulatory effects of the central amygdaloid nucleus on pancreatic exocrine secretion in rats.

The effects of electrical stimulation of the central (CE) and basolateral (BL) amygdaloid nuclei on pancreatic exocrine secretion were tested in urethane-anesthetized rats. Electrical stimulation (0.1 mA, 1 ms, 40 Hz) of the CE significantly increased basal and hormone (secretin+cholecystokinin-8)-infused pancreatic exocrine secretion. These increases in pancreatic secretion were abolished by bilateral vagotomy. Electrical stimulation of the BL had no significant effect on basal and hormone-infused secretion. We conclude that the CE plays a stimulatory role in pancreatic exocrine secretion via the vagus nerve but the BL does not affect pancreatic secretion.

Amygdala↗

The effect of bilateral amygdaloid nucleus lesions on rat small bowel crypt cell kinetics.

Previous investigators have found that central nervous system lesions, in particular lesions of the hypothalamus, may increase the crypt cell mitotic rate in the rat small bowel. Since the amygdaloid nuclei form part of the limbic system (the "visceral brain") and have functional neural connections with the hypothalamus the effect of bilateral electrocoagulation lesions of the amygdaloid nuclei on crypt cell mitotic rate in the rat small bowel was investigated, using a stathmokinetic technique. Bilateral amygdaloid lesions were found to be associated with a marked increase in crypt cell mitotic rate in the proximal jejunum and distal ileum. Consideration of the neural connections of the amygdaloid nuclei suggests that these effects may possibly be mediated via the hypothalamus and the autonomic nervous system. The effects of lesions of other parts of the limbic system on crypt cell mitotic rate will be published subsequently.

Amygdala↗

[Dephosphorelation of Bad and upregulation of Bcl-2 in hippocampus of rats following limbic seizure induced by kainic acid injection into amygdaloid nucleus].

The purpose of the present study was to explore the seizure-induced changes in Bad (Bcl-2-associated death protein), 14-3-3, phosphoBad, Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL expression in the rat model of focal limbic seizure. Unilateral intra-amygdaloid injection of kainic acid (KA) was made to induce seizure. Electroencephalogram (EEG) and regional cerebral flow (r-CBF) were monitored continuously. Diazepam (30 mg/kg) was administered to terminate the seizure. The apoptotic and surviving neurons in the hippocampus were observed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferrase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and cresyl violet staining, the expression of Bad, 14-3-3, phosphoBad, Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL were detected with immunofluorescence, Western blot and immunoprecipitation. The results showed that TUNEL-positive neurons appeared at 8 h and reached maximum at 24 h following seizure cessation within the ipsilateral CA3 subfield of the hippocampus. Seizure induced the dephosphorylation of Bad and the dissociation of Bad from its chaperone protein 14-3-3 and subsequent dimerization of Bad with Bcl-XL. The expression of phosphoBad decreased and Bcl-2 increased. There was little change in r-CBF after the seizure. These results suggest that seizure leads to a dephosphorylation of Bad and an upregulation of Bcl-2. Dephosphorylation of Bad may be injurious while the upregulation of Bcl-2 may be protective to the brain damage induced by seizures, but not related with r-CBF.

Amygdala↗