Abstract
The interplay between corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and the dopaminergic system has predominantly been studied in addiction and reward, while CRH-dopamine interactions in anxiety are scarcely understood. We describe a new population of CRH-expressing, GABAergic, long-range-projecting neurons in the extended amygdala that innervate the ventral tegmental area and alter anxiety following chronic CRH depletion. These neurons are part of a distinct CRH circuit that acts anxiolytically by positively modulating dopamine release.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amygdala / cytology
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Amygdala / physiology*
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Animals
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Anxiety / psychology*
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Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / physiology
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Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / deficiency*
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Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / pharmacology
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Dendritic Spines / ultrastructure
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Dopamine / metabolism*
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GABAergic Neurons / physiology*
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Injections
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Knockout
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Motor Activity
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Optogenetics
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Pain Perception
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Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / metabolism
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Ventral Tegmental Area / cytology
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Ventral Tegmental Area / physiology
Substances
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CRF receptor type 2
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Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
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CRF receptor type 1
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Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
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Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
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Camk2a protein, mouse
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Dopamine