Regulation of emotional memory by hydrogen sulfide: role of GluN2B‐containing NMDA receptor in the amygdala. (20th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Can‐Ming; Yang, Yuan‐Jian; Zhang, Jie‐Ting; Liu, Jue; Guan, Xin‐Lei; Li, Ming‐Xing; Lu, Hai‐Feng; Wu, Peng‐Fei; Chen, Jian‐Guo; Wang, Fang
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurochemistry. Volume 132:Number 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 124
• Page End: 134
• Publication Date: 2014-10-20
• Subjects: Neurochemistry -- Periodicals; 616.8042
• DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12961
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3042

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jnc12961-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>As an endogenous gaseous molecule, hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) has attracted extensive attention because of its multiple biological effects. However, the effect of H<sub>2</sub>S on amygdala‐mediated emotional memory has not been elucidated. Here, by employing Pavlovian fear conditioning, an animal model widely used to explore the neural substrates of emotion, we determined whether H<sub>2</sub>S could regulate emotional memory. It was shown that the H<sub>2</sub>S levels in the amygdala of rats were significantly elevated after cued fear conditioning. Both intraamygdala and systemic administrations of H<sub>2</sub>S markedly enhanced amygdala‐dependent cued fear memory in rats. Moreover, it was found that H<sub>2</sub>S selectively increased the surface expression and currents of NMDA‐type glutamate receptor subunit 2B (GluN2B)‐containing NMDA receptors (NMDARs) in lateral amygdala of rats, whereas blockade of GluN2B‐containing NMDARs in lateral amygdala eliminated the effects of H<sub>2</sub>S to enhance amygdalar long‐term potentiation and cued fear memory. These results demonstrate that H<sub>2</sub>S can regulate amygdala‐dependent emotional memory by promoting the function of GluN2B‐containing NMDARs in amygdala, suggesting that H<sub>2</sub>S‐associated signaling may hold potential as a new target for the treatment of emotional disorders. <boxed-text content-type="graphic" id="jnc12961-blkfxd-1001" position="anchor" orientation="portrait"><graphic position="anchor" mimetype="image" xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh2t6gx0cz" orientation="portrait" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /></boxed-text></p> <p>In our study, the effect of hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) on amygdala‐mediated emotional memory was investigated. It was found that H<sub>2</sub>S could enhance amygdala‐dependent emotional memory and long‐term potentiation (LTP) in rats by selectively increasing the function of GluN2B‐containing NMDA receptors in the amygdala. These results suggest that H<sub>2</sub>S‐associated signaling may be a new target for the treatment of emotional disorders.</p> </abstract>