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Central amygdala nucleus (Ce) gene expression linked to increased trait-like Ce metabolism and anxious temperament in

Andrew S Fox1, Jonathan A Oler, Steven E Shelton

  • 1Department of Psychology, HealthEmotions Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53719, USA. asfox@wisc.edu

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|October 17, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Anxious temperament (AT) in children is linked to decreased neuroplasticity in the amygdala, specifically lower NTRK3 gene expression. This suggests altered brain development may increase the risk for anxiety and depression.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Children with anxious temperament (AT) exhibit heightened sensitivity to social novelty and are at increased risk for anxiety and depression.
  • Young rhesus monkeys serve as a valuable model for studying human AT due to shared genetic, neural, and social-emotional characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neurodevelopmental underpinnings of anxious temperament (AT) in young rhesus monkeys.
  • To explore the relationship between amygdala function, gene expression, and dispositional anxiety.

Main Methods:

  • In vivo imaging was used to assess central nucleus of the amygdala (Ce) metabolism in young monkeys.
  • Transcriptome-wide gene expression analysis was performed on the Ce.
  • Correlation analyses were conducted between Ce metabolism, gene expression, and AT.

Main Results:

  • Central nucleus of the amygdala (Ce) metabolism was stable across development and predicted AT.
  • Decreased mRNA expression of neurotrophic tyrosine kinase, receptor, type 3 (NTRK3) was observed in individuals with high AT.
  • Ce NTRK3 expression was inversely correlated with Ce metabolism and other AT-related markers.

Conclusions:

  • Findings support a maladaptive neurodevelopmental hypothesis linking reduced amygdala neuroplasticity to early-life dispositional anxiety.
  • Altered amygdala neuroplasticity, potentially mediated by NTRK3 expression, may contribute to the early dispositional risk for anxiety and depression.

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