PhD Scientific Days

Poster Presentation: Neurosciences

P54: Role of the midline thalamus in fear learning and anxiety

Előadó neve

Kanti, Vivien

Előadó munkahelye

Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Research Center of Natural Sciences

Előadó telefonszáma

+3613826682

Előadó e-mail címe

kanti.vivien@ttk.mta.hu

Az előadás címe

Role of the midline thalamus in fear learning and anxiety

Szerző(k) neve és munkahelye

V. Kanti 1, B. Barsy 1, K. Kocsis 1,2, A. Magyar 1, A. Babiczky 1, K. Varga 1, F. Matyas 1
1 Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Research Center of Natural Sciences, Budapest
2 Pázmány Péter Chatolic University, Budapest

Szekció

Poster Presentation: Neurosciences

Data of the presenter

János Szentágothai Doctoral School of Neurosciences
Neuromorphology and Cell Biology
Ferenc Mátyás
kanti.vivien@ttk.mta.hu

Text of the abstract

Recognition of threatening stimuli is critical for survival. Although normal fear responses are essential for physiological defensive behaviour, abnormal changes of the underlying neuronal circuitry may lead to anxiety disorders. Previous studies based on chemical or electrical lesions predicted important roles for midline thalamus (MT) in various behavioural actions. However, due to the irregular shaped and small sized nature of MT, these approaches are not suitable for precise examination of this thalamic region. Preliminary results revealed that neurons of MT selectively express a calcium-binding protein, the calretinin (CR), which allow us to examine the function of MT in a cell-type specific manner. Furthermore, using optogenetic methods and CR-Cre transgenic mouse line, the regulatory function of MT in arousal was proven.
Earlier data demonstrated a major role of the amygdala and the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST) in fear learning and anxiety. As CR+ MT cells also send dense axonal projection to these regions, the involvement of MT in fear and anxiety is hypothesised and thus, investigated.
As a starting point of our research, we showed that CR+ cells are activated in positive or negative emotional situations, measured with cFos (an early-immediate gene) expression. Then, we applied tracing techniques showing that distinct amygdaloid nuclei as well as BNST receive strong projections from the MT CR+ neurons. However, bidirectional control of MT neurons via optogenetic failed to show any changes in anxiety-like behaviour in open field test and elevated plus maze. Finally, we analysed the effects of optogenetic perturbation of MT CR+ neurons in fear learning and found age-dependent changes. This suggests that CR+ neurons may undergo an age-dependent neuronal plasticity. Altogether, this work provides direct evidences that CR+ neurons of MT perceive all kind of emotional signals and they can influence fear-related behavioural actions.

Azonosító

P54

Kind

Szabad

Előadás fájl jóváhagyás

nem rendelkezett róla

Előadó

1241

PhD Scientific Days 2017

Budapest, 11-12 April 2017