Assessing the role of BNST GABA neurons in backward conditioned suppression

Conditioned suppression is a useful paradigm for measuring learned avoidance. In most conditioned suppression studies, forward conditioning is used where a cue predicts an aversive stimulus. However, backward conditioning, in which an aversive stimulus predicts a cue, provides unique insights into learned avoidance due to its influence on both conditioned excitation and inhibition. We trained mice to consume sucrose in context A, associated an aversive stimulus in context B to few or many forward or backwards paired cues (CS + ), and then tested for conditioned suppression in context A in response to the CS + . We found that few or many forward CS + and few backward CS + produced conditioned suppression, but many backwards cues did not. Administration of diazepam, a positive allosteric modulator of the GABA_A receptor, prevented conditioned suppression to the backward CS + but not to the forward CS + . Furthermore, freezing behavior was observed in response to the forward CS + but not the backward CS+, and diazepam had no effect on freezing or locomotion. We next examined BNST GABA neurons for potential sensitivity to backwards cues and conditioned suppression. VGaT BNST signaling increased in response to sucrose licks during the backward CS + but not to licks outside the CS + and not to the backward CS + onset or offset. Using designer receptors, we found that BNST VGaT neuron activation, but not its inhibition, prevented backward conditioned suppression expression. We conclude that backward conditioned suppression is dependent on both positive allosteric modulation of GABA on GABA_A receptors by diazepam and BNST GABA neurons.