Predator fear memory depends on glucocorticoid receptors and protein synthesis in the basolateral amygdala and ventral hippocampus

Author(s)

Reis, Fernando Midea Cuccovia, V ; Novaes, Leonardo Santana ; Santos, Nilton Barreto dos ; Ferreira-Rosa, Kelvia Carolina ; Perfetto, Juliano Genaro ; Baldo, Marcus Vinicius C. ; Munhoz, Carolina Demarchi ; Canteras, Newton Sabino

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY; v. 141, p. 11-pg., 2022-07-01.

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested that the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the ventral hippocampus (VH) are critical sites for predator-related fear memory. Predator exposure is an intense emotional experience and should increase plasmatic corticosterone likely to modulate the emotion-related memories. However, it is unclear whether the BLA and VH harbor plastic events underlying predator-related fear memory storage and how mo-lecular and endocrine mechanisms interact to modulate memory to the predatory threat. Here, we first examined the effects of protein synthesis inhibition in the BLA and VH on fear memory to a predatory threat. We next evaluated how exposure to a predatory threat impacts the corticosterone release and how the inhibition of corticosterone synthesis can influence predator-related fear memory. Finally, we examined how predator exposure triggers the activation of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors in the BLA and VH and whether the GR antagonist injection affects predator-related fear memory. We showed that predator-related contextual fear is dependent on protein synthesis in the BLA and VH. Moreover, we described the impact of rapid glucocorticoid release during predatory exposure on the formation of contextual fear responses and that GR-induced signaling facilitates memory consolidation within the BLA and VH. The results are relevant in un-derstanding how life-threatening situations such as a predator encounter impact fear memory storage and open exciting perspectives to investigate GR-induced proteins as targets to deciphering and manipulating aversive memories. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/00908-9 - Stress-induced anxiety-like behaviors: glucocorticoid signaling in neuronal hyperexcitability and mitochondrial dysfunction within the basolateral amygdala complex
• Grantee: Carolina Demarchi Munhoz
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/08668-1 - In vivo study of GABAergic and glutamatergic neuronal populations of the periaqueductal gray matter in response to different kinds of threat
• Grantee: Fernando Midea Cuccovia Vasconcelos Reis
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 16/03572-3 - The relationship between glucocorticoid receptor activation and the neuronal hyperexcitability in the basolateral amygdala in the restraint stress-induced long-lasting anxiety and their implications in the impaired contextual fear extinction
• Grantee: Carolina Demarchi Munhoz
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/05432-9 - Neural bases of fear and aggression
• Grantee: Newton Sabino Canteras
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/23092-3 - Signaling pathways involved in fear memory to predatory threats
• Grantee: Fernando Midea Cuccovia Vasconcelos Reis
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral