A role for the PI-3 kinase signaling pathway in fear conditioning and synaptic plasticity in the amygdala

Neuron. 2001 Sep 13;31(5):841-51. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(01)00433-0.

Abstract

Western blot analysis of neuronal tissues taken from fear-conditioned rats showed a selective activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3 kinase) in the amygdala. PI-3 kinase was also activated in response to long-term potentiation (LTP)-inducing tetanic stimulation. PI-3 kinase inhibitors blocked tetanus-induced LTP as well as PI-3 kinase activation. In parallel, these inhibitors interfered with long-term fear memory while leaving short-term memory intact. Tetanus and forskolin-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was blocked by PI-3 kinase inhibitors, which also inhibited cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation. These results provide novel evidence of a requirement of PI-3 kinase activation in the amygdala for synaptic plasticity and memory consolidation, and this activation may occur at a point upstream of MAPK activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Afferent Pathways / cytology
  • Afferent Pathways / drug effects
  • Afferent Pathways / enzymology
  • Amygdala / cytology
  • Amygdala / drug effects
  • Amygdala / enzymology*
  • Androstadienes / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Chromones / pharmacology
  • Colforsin / pharmacology
  • Conditioning, Psychological / drug effects
  • Conditioning, Psychological / physiology*
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / drug effects
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • Dimethyl Sulfoxide / pharmacology
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Fear / drug effects
  • Fear / physiology*
  • Long-Term Potentiation / drug effects
  • Long-Term Potentiation / physiology
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / physiology
  • Male
  • Memory / drug effects
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Morpholines / pharmacology
  • Neuronal Plasticity / drug effects
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / enzymology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Synapses / drug effects
  • Synapses / enzymology
  • Synapses / ultrastructure
  • Wortmannin

Substances

  • Androstadienes
  • Chromones
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Morpholines
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Colforsin
  • 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
  • Wortmannin
  • Dimethyl Sulfoxide