Cited by 249Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchMemory and Neural MechanismsStress Responses and Cortisol

Glucocorticoids Enhance the Excitability of Principal Basolateral Amygdala Neurons

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Duvarci, Sevil, Paré, Denis·2007·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

A large body of pharmaco-behavioral data implicates the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) in the facilitation of memory consolidation by emotions. Overall, this evidence suggests that stress hormones released during emotional arousal increase the activity of BLA neurons. In turn, this increased BLA activity would facilitate synaptic plasticity elsewhere in the brain, to which the BLA projects. However, the direct effects of glucocorticoids on BLA neurons are incompletely understood. In the present study, we examined the direct effects of corticosterone (CORT) on principal neurons of the rat BLA in vitro using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. We found that application of a stress level of CORT for 20 min caused significant changes in the passive properties and responsiveness of BLA cells measured 1–2 h later. Indeed, CORT application produced a depolarization of the resting potential, an increase in input resistance, and a dramatic decrease in spike-frequency adaptation. In addition, GABA A IPSPs evoked by stimulation of the external capsule were significantly reduced by CORT application. This effect of CORT was not attributable to a reduction in the amount of GABA released because GABA B IPSPs were unchanged and the resistance drop associated with GABA A IPSPs was not altered. Rather, we found that this effect of CORT resulted from a positive shift of the GABA A reversal potential. Overall, these results suggest that, in agreement with previous behavioral findings, glucocorticoids enhance the excitability of principal BLA cells by increasing their intrinsic excitability and decreasing the impact of GABA A IPSPs.

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Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.0680-07.2007

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  1. McDonald AJ (1992) Cell types and intrinsic connections of the amygdala. In: The amydala: neurobiological aspects of emotion, memory, and men- tal dysfunction (Aggleton JP, ed), pp 69 -76. New York: Wiley-Liss.

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Authors
Duvarci, S., & Paré, D.
Affiliations
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2007-04-18
Volume
27
Issue
16
Pages
4482-4491
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W2062746952
Cited by
249
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 20
FWCI
7.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (0208712)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH073610, MH073610)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords
glucocorticoids, corticosterone, basolateral amygdala, principal neurons, neuronal excitability, intrinsic excitability, spike frequency adaptation, input resistance, resting membrane potential, stress hormones, emotional memory consolidation
MeSH terms
Amygdala, Animals, Cell Membrane, Emotions, Glucocorticoids, Membrane Potentials, Memory, Neurons, Receptors, Glucocorticoid, Stress, Physiological, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials, Rats

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