The proposed study is the beginning of a long-term investigation of the synaptic organization of the basolateral amygdala that will focus on the basal amygdalar nucleus (BAN). The amygdala is one of the chief forebrain regions concerned with emotion. Clinical interest in the basolateral amygdala stems from its involvement in temporal lobe epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and psychiatric disorders (including anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia). It is also one of the main regions targeted by benzodiazepines and other psychiatric medications. Despite the importance of this brain region, very little is known about the synaptic organization of its constituent psychiatric disorders involving the amygdala. The proposed studies will focus on the inhibitory interneurons of the BAN. These investigations will use immunocytochemical methods at the light and electron microscopic levels to identify the main subpopulations of inhibitory interneurons and to analyze their connections: 1) with the principal neurons of the BAN, 2) with the serotonergic, dopaminergic, and noradrenergic afferents to the BAN, and 3) with each other. The synaptic connections of electrophysiological characterized principal neurons and interneurons will also be examined; this represents the first time that electrophysiological and ultrastructural techniques will be combined to elucidate the synaptic organization of the basolateral amygdala. In addition, it will be determined if particular interneuronal subpopulations in the BAN exhibit specific subtypes of GABAergic, glutamatergic, and monoaminergic receptors, and whether there are extensive non-synaptic interactions of monoaminergic transmitters with BAN neurons.III.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01NS038998-01
Application #
2892737
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IFCN-1 (01))
Program Officer
Jacobs, Margaret
Project Start
1999-07-01
Project End
2003-06-30
Budget Start
1999-07-01
Budget End
2000-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
111310249
City
Columbia
State
SC
Country
United States
Zip Code
29208
Mascagni, F; Muly, E C; Rainnie, D G et al. (2009) Immunohistochemical characterization of parvalbumin-containing interneurons in the monkey basolateral amygdala. Neuroscience 158:1541-50
Muller, Jay F; Mascagni, Franco; McDonald, Alexander J (2009) Dopaminergic innervation of pyramidal cells in the rat basolateral amygdala. Brain Struct Funct 213:275-88
Mascagni, F; McDonald, A J (2009) Parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons and GABAergic neurons of the basal forebrain project to the rat basolateral amygdala. Neuroscience 160:805-12
Pinard, C R; Muller, J F; Mascagni, F et al. (2008) Dopaminergic innervation of interneurons in the rat basolateral amygdala. Neuroscience 157:850-63
McDonald, A J; Mascagni, F (2007) Neuronal localization of 5-HT type 2A receptor immunoreactivity in the rat basolateral amygdala. Neuroscience 146:306-20
Muller, Jay F; Mascagni, Franco; McDonald, Alexander J (2007) Serotonin-immunoreactive axon terminals innervate pyramidal cells and interneurons in the rat basolateral amygdala. J Comp Neurol 505:314-35
Mascagni, F; McDonald, A J (2007) A novel subpopulation of 5-HT type 3A receptor subunit immunoreactive interneurons in the rat basolateral amygdala. Neuroscience 144:1015-24
Muller, Jay F; Mascagni, Franco; McDonald, Alexander J (2007) Postsynaptic targets of somatostatin-containing interneurons in the rat basolateral amygdala. J Comp Neurol 500:513-29
Muller, Jay F; Mascagni, Franco; McDonald, Alexander J (2006) Pyramidal cells of the rat basolateral amygdala: synaptology and innervation by parvalbumin-immunoreactive interneurons. J Comp Neurol 494:635-50
McDonald, A J; Mascagni, F (2006) Differential expression of Kv3.1b and Kv3.2 potassium channel subunits in interneurons of the basolateral amygdala. Neuroscience 138:537-47

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