Blockade of synaptic activity in the neostriatum and activation of striatal efferent pathways produce opposite effects on panic attack-like defensive behaviours evoked by GABAergic disinhibition in the deep layers of the superior colliculus

Author(s)

da Silva, Juliana Almeida ^{[1, 2]} ; Almada, Rafael Carvalho ^{[1, 2]} ; de Figueiredo, Rebeca Machado ^{[1, 2]} ; Coimbra, Norberto Cysne ^{[1, 2, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] Behav Neurosci Inst INeC, Av Cafe 2450, BR-14050220 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sclo Paulo, FMRP, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Lab Neuroanat & Neuropsychobiol, Dept Pharmacol, Av Bandeirantes 3900, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, FMRP, Ribeirao Preto Sch Med, NAP USP Neurobiol Emot Res Ctr NuPNE, Av Bandeirantes 3900, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Physiology & Behavior; v. 196, p. 104-111, NOV 1 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

The dorsal periaqueductal grey matter (dPAG) and the deep layers of the superior colliculus (dlSC) have been implicated in the organisation of innate fear-related defensive behaviours. Furthermore, GABAergic neurons from the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNpr) connected to the dlSC and dPAG receive convergent disinhibitory inputs from the caudate-putamen (CPu), comprising the neostriatum, and modulate defence responses elicited by midbrain tectum stimulation. The purpose of this work was to study the effect of either excitatory cortico-neostriatal input blockade or neostriato-nigral GABAergic disinhibitory output activation on the responsivity of GABAergic nigro-collicular tonic inhibitory pathways during the elicitation of panic attack-like defensive responses produced by bicuculline administration into the dlSC. Thus, we investigated the effects of microinjection of either the synaptic activity blocker cobalt chloride (CoCl2) or the NMDA receptor agonist Nmethyl-D-aspartic acid in the CPu on the elaboration of the defensive behaviour elicited by the selective blockade of GABAA receptors in the dlSC. Our findings showed that pretreatment of the neostriatum with CoCl2 caused clear anxiolytic and panicolytic-like effects, reducing the incidence and duration of alertness and diminishing defensive immobility and explosive escape responses. On the other hand, pretreatment of the neostriatum with NMDA (40 nmol) caused a pro-aversive effect, enhancing running and jumping responses elicited by GABAergic disinhibition in the dlSC. We conclude from the data that the neostriato-nigral disinhibitory and nigro-collicular inhibitory GABAergic pathways modulate innate fear and panic attack-like responses organised by dlSC neurons. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/01174-1 - Study of the Involvement of opioid-, serotonergic- and noradrenergic-mechanisms of the pain endogenous inhibitory system in antinociceptive processes induced by oriented escape reactions evoked by chemical stimulation of the merdial hypothalamus
• Grantee: Norberto Cysne Coimbra
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/10313-1 - Study of nigro-tectal GABAergic pathways activity during the elaboration of defensive behaviour: role of endocannabinoid mediated neuromodulation in the caudatum putamen of the GABAergic disinhibitory neostriatum-nigral inhibitory nigro-collicular pathways
• Grantee: Juliana Almeida da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 09/02458-9 - Neuropharmacological study of the interaction between cannabinoid and opioid circuits of the substantia nigra, pars reticulata, on the activity of the nigrotectal GABAergic pathways, and of its role in the modulation of the innate fear-induced analgesia
• Grantee: Juliana Almeida da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 12/03798-0 - Involvement of opioid and endocanabinoid receptors of the substantia nigra on the activity of Nigro-Tectal GABAergic pathways during defensive behaviour elicited by rodents confronted with venomous snakes
• Grantee: Norberto Cysne Coimbra
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/22681-7 - Involvement of Opioid and Endocanabinoid Receptors of the Substantia Nigra, Pars Reticulata, in the Modulation of the Activity of Nigro-Tectal GABAergic Pathways during the Organization of Defensive Behaviour of Mice Confronted with Venomous Snakes
• Grantee: Rafael Carvalho Almada
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 09/54014-7 - Acquisition of a biophotonic imaging system and a multiphoton microscopy system for in vivo imaging
• Grantee: Enilza Maria Espreafico
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program