Neuropeptide Y neurons in the nucleus accumbens modulate anxiety-like behavior

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36-amino acid neuropeptide that is widely expressed in the central nervous system, including the cerebral cortex, nucleus accumbens (NAc) and hypothalamus. We previously analyzed the behavior of transgenic mice exclusively expressing an unedited RNA isoform of the 5-HT_2C receptor. These mice showed decreased NPY gene expression in the NAc and exhibited behavioral despair, suggesting that NAc NPY neurons may be involved in mood disorder; however, their role in this behavior remained unknown. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the functional role of NAc NPY neurons in anxiety-like behavior by examining the impact of specific ablation or activation of NAc NPY neurons using NPY-Cre mice and Cre-dependent adeno-associated virus. Diphtheria toxin-mediated ablation of NAc NPY neurons significantly increased anxiety-like behavior in the open field and elevated plus maze tests, compared with before toxin treatment. Moreover, chemogenetic activation of NAc NPY neurons reduced anxiety-like behavior in both behavioral tests compared with control mice. These results suggest that NPY neurons in the NAc are involved in the modulation of anxiety in mice.