Predator fear memory depends on glucocorticoid receptors and protein synthesis in the basolateral amygdala and ventral hippocampus. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cuccovia V Reis, Fernando Midea; Novaes, Leonardo Santana; dos Santos, Nilton Barreto; Ferreira-Rosa, Kélvia Carolina; Perfetto, Juliano Genaro; Baldo, Marcus Vinicius C.; Munhoz, Carolina Demarchi; Canteras, Newton Sabino
• Is Part Of: Psychoneuroendocrinology. Volume 141(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Contextual fear memory -- Defensive behavior -- Stress -- Glucocorticoid receptor; Psychoneuroendocrinology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Neuropsychoendocrinologie -- Périodiques; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105757
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4530

Abstract

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 molecular 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 understanding 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. Highlights: The basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the ventral hippocampus (VH) are critical sites for predator-related fear memory. Predator-related contextual fear is dependent on protein synthesis in the BLA and VH. Predator exposure induced glucocorticoid receptor (GR) phosphorylation in the BLA and VH. The blockade of GR in the BLA and VH impaired predator-related contextual fear memory. The interaction between neural, molecular, and endocrine mechanisms is involved in fear memory to predatory threats.