Apical intercalated cell cluster: A distinct sensory regulator in the amygdala
Douglas Asede1, Divyesh Doddapaneni1, Abigail Chavez1
1Disorders of Neural Circuit Function, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL, USA.
Cell Reports
|May 19, 2021
Summary
Apical intercalated cells (apITCs) in the amygdala receive sensory inputs and inhibit principal cells. This sensory feedforward inhibition may control plasticity during fear learning.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
Background:
- GABAergic neurons in the amygdala are crucial for information processing.
- Intercalated cells (ITCs) are implicated in fear behaviors, but apical ITCs (apITCs) remain understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional role and synaptic connections of apical ITCs (apITCs) in the amygdala.
Main Methods:
- Monosynaptic rabies tracing combined with optogenetics.
- 3-D reconstruction of apITCs.
Main Results:
- apITCs receive input from thalamic nuclei (MGm, PIN) and various cortical areas.
- PIN/MGm inputs to apITCs strengthen after fear learning.
- apITCs innervate the dorsal striatum and lateral amygdala.
- apITCs provide sensory feedforward inhibition to lateral amygdala principal cells.
Conclusions:
- apITCs play a role in fear-related information processing.
- Sensory feedforward inhibition by apITCs is a potential mechanism for regulating plasticity during fear learning.
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