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Region-Specific Vulnerability of the Amygdala to Injury-Induced Spreading Depolarization

Mariia P Smirnova1, Tatiana M Medvedeva1, Irina V Pavlova1

  • 1Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117485 Moscow, Russia.

Biomedicines
|September 23, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Spreading depolarization (SD) shows regional differences in the amygdala after brain injury. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is more susceptible to SD than the centromedial amygdala (CMA), impacting brain injury patterns.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Brain Injury Research
  • Electrophysiology

Background:

  • Spreading depolarization (SD) is a key event in acute brain injury.
  • The amygdala's role in post-injury neuropsychological symptoms is recognized.
  • Regional heterogeneity in brain structures' response to injury is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the regional vulnerability of the amygdala to spreading depolarization (SD) following acute focal brain damage.
  • To analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics of SD triggered within the amygdala and its propagation patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Inducing acute focal micro-injuries in specific amygdala subregions (basolateral amygdala - BLA and centromedial amygdala - CMA).
  • Monitoring and recording the occurrence and propagation of spreading depolarization (SD) using electrophysiological methods.
  • Comparing the incidence and characteristics of SD triggered by identical injuries in BLA versus CMA.

Main Results:

  • The basolateral amygdala (BLA) demonstrated significantly higher susceptibility to SD induction (71%) compared to the centromedial amygdala (CMA) (33%) after micro-injury.
  • SD events triggered in the amygdala exhibited diverse spatiotemporal patterns of propagation to the cortex.
  • Identical focal injuries resulted in a higher frequency of SD in the BLA than in the CMA.

Conclusions:

  • The amygdala exhibits significant regional heterogeneity in its susceptibility to spreading depolarization (SD).
  • This regional gradient in SD vulnerability within the amygdala may influence the complexity of SD patterns observed in injured brains.
  • Understanding this heterogeneity is crucial for targeting SD in acute brain injury management.
Keywords:
basolateral amygdalacentromedial amygdalaintracerebral micro-injuryspreading depolarization

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