Williamson M, Viau V. Selective contributions of the medial preoptic nucleus to testosterone-dependant regulation of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and the HPA axis. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 295: R1020–R1030, 2008. First published August 6, 2008; doi:10.1152/ajpregu.90389.2008.—Previous data have consistently demonstrated an inhibitory effect of androgens on stres...

The role of limbic, cortical, and striatal circuitry in a footshock reinstatement model of relapse to cocaine seeking was evaluated. Transient inhibition of the central extended amygdala [CEA; including the central nucleus of the amygdala (CN), ventral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNSTv), and nucleus accumbens shell (NAshell)], ventral tegmental area (VTA), and motor circuitry [includin...

Taste neophobia refers to a reduction in consumption of a novel taste relative to when it is familiar. To gain more understanding of the neural basis of this phenomenon, the current study examined whether a novel taste (0.5% saccharin) supports a different pattern of c-Fos expression than the same taste when it is familiar. Results revealed that the taste of the novel saccharin solution evoked ...

Previous neurophysiological studies have demonstrated that the amygdala has a direct influence upon trigeminal motoneuron activity. The existence of a direct amygdalotrigeminal pathway in rats was proved by anterograde tracing with the neuroanatomical tracer, biotinylated dextran amine (BDA). After ipsilateral BDA application to the central nucleus of the amygdala (AmCe), widespread ipsilateral...

The neural circuits involved in mediating complex behaviors are being rapidly elucidated using various newly developed and powerful anatomical and molecular techniques, providing insights into the neural basis for anxiety disorders, depression, addiction, and dysfunctional social behaviors. Many of these behaviors and associated physiological processes involve the activation of the amygdala in ...

The amygdala is a key region for the processing of information underlying fear, anxiety, and fear extinction. Within the local neuronal networks of the amygdala, a population of inhibitory, intercalated neurons (ITCs) modulates the flow of information among various nuclei of amygdala, including the basal nucleus (BA) and the centromedial nucleus (CeM) of the amygdala. These ITCs have been shown...

'Amygdala' and 'amygdalar complex' are terms that now refer to a highly differentiated region near the temporal pole of the mammalian cerebral hemisphere. Cell groups within it appear to be differentiated parts of the traditional cortex, the claustrum, or the striatum, and these parts belong to four obvious functional systems--accessory olfactory, main olfactory, autonomic and frontotemporal co...

Afferent fibers from the amygdala to subdivisions of lateral, ventromedial and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei were investigated in rat by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase. Small (intranuclear size) peroxidase deposits were placed in hypothalamic nuclei by iontophoresis of a tracer solution containing poly-L-alpha-ornithine which greatly limited diffusion. The medial, central and ...

Synaptic plasticity in the amygdala is thought to underlie aversive or rewarding learning and emotional memories. In this study, different mechanisms were found to underlie synaptic plasticity in lateral (LA) and basolateral (BLA) amygdala pathways to the primary output nucleus of the amygdala, the central amygdala (CeA). Specifically, 1) long-term potentiation (LTP) at the BLA-CeA synapses was...