GABA-induced inactivation of dorsal midline thalamic subregions has distinct effects on emotional behaviors

The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is a key node integrating information about emotion and relaying output to other limbic structures influencing motor behavior. With recent studies showing the anterior (aPVT) and posterior (pPVT) subregions of this nucleus to have different anatomical connections and functions in ingestive behavior, the present study investigated whether they also make different contributions to emotional behaviors. Rats were microinjected in the aPVT or pPVT with saline vehicle or the GABAB+GABAA agonists, baclofen+muscimol (bac+mus; 0.3+0.03nmol), to inhibit neural activity and were then tested between-subject for differences in emotional behavior. In a novel activity chamber, bac+mus significantly reduced locomotor activity, with this change somewhat larger after injection in the pPVT than the aPVT. In a familiar activity chamber, bac+mus again reduced locomotor activity but induced similar changes after injection in the aPVT and pPVT. In an elevated plus maze, bac+mus significantly decreased open arm time and entries, although this was observed only after injection in the pPVT. Thus, while both PVT subregions are necessary for general locomotor activity, the pPVT appears to have a greater function in both novelty-induced activity and anxiety-like behavior, indicating that this subregion makes a greater contribution than the aPVT to reactions to stressful stimuli.