SummaryMultimodal objects and events activate many sensory cortical areas simultaneously. This is possibly reflected in reciprocal modulations of neuronal activity, even at the level of primary cortical areas. However, the synaptic character of these interareal interactions, and their impact on synaptic and behavioral sensory responses are unclear. Here, we found that activation of auditory cortex by a noise burst drove local GABAergic inhibition on supragranular pyramids of the mouse primary visual cortex, via cortico-cortical connections. This inhibition was generated by sound-driven excitation of a limited number of cells in infragranular visual cortical neurons. Consequently, visually driven synaptic and spike responses were reduced upon bimodal stimulation. Also, acoustic stimulation suppressed conditioned behavioral responses to a dim flash, an effect that was prevented by acute blockade of GABAergic transmission in visual cortex. Thus, auditory cortex activation by salient stimuli degrades potentially distracting sensory processing in visual cortex by recruiting local, translaminar, inhibitory circuits.

Background-The stress-related neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is involved in determining behavioral strategies for responding to stressors, in part through its regulation of the dorsal raphe (DR)-serotonin (5-HT) system. CRF 1 and CRF 2 receptor subtypes have opposing effects on this system that are associated with active vs. passive coping strategies, respectively.

Endocannabinoids (eCBs) regulate neuronal activity in the dorso-lateral striatum (DLS), a brain region that is involved in habitual behaviors. How synaptic eCB signaling contributes to habitual behaviors under physiological and pathological conditions remains unclear. Using a mouse model of cannabinoid tolerance, we found that persistent activation of the eCB pathway impaired eCB-mediated long-term depression (LTD) and synaptic depotentiation in the DLS. The loss of eCB LTD, occurring preferentially at cortical connections to striatopallidal neurons, was associated with a shift in behavioral control from goal-directed action to habitual responding. eCB LTD and behavioral alterations were rescued by in vivo modulation of small-conductance calcium activated potassium channel (SK channel) activity in the DLS, which potentiates eCB signaling. Our results reveal a direct relationship between drug tolerance and changes in control of instrumental performance by establishing a central role for eCB LTD in habit expression. In addition, SK channels emerge as molecular targets to fine tune the eCB pathway under pathological conditions.

The basal ganglia play a critical role in shaping motor behavior. For this function, the activity of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the striatonigral and striatopallidal pathways must be integrated. It remains unclear whether the activity of the two pathways is primarily coordinated by synaptic plasticity mechanisms. Using a model of Parkinson's disease, we determined the circuit and behavioral effects of concurrently regulating cell-type-specific forms of corticostriatal long-term synaptic depression (LTD) by inhibiting small-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (SKs) of the dorsolateral striatum. At striatopallidal synapses, SK channel inhibition rescued the disease-linked deficits in endocannabinoid (eCB)-dependent LTD. At striatonigral cells, inhibition of these channels counteracted a form of adenosine-mediated LTD by activating the ERK cascade. Interfering with eCB-, adenosine-, and ERK signaling in vivo alleviated motor abnormalities, which supports that synaptic modulation of striatal pathways affects behavior. Thus, our results establish a central role of coordinated synaptic plasticity at MSN subpopulations in motor control.

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) has been demonstrated to modulate nociceptive transmission via selective activation of N/OFQ peptide (NOP) receptors. Despite huge research efforts, the role(s) of the endogenous N/OFQ-NOP receptor system in pain processing remains incompletely understood. In the present study, we investigated the role of endogenous N/OFQ in the processing of tonic nociceptive input. To address this issue the effects of NOP-selective antagonists [Nphe1,Arg14,Lys15]N/OFQ-NH2 (UFP-101) and J-113397 on nociceptive behaviour, and the nociceptive phenotype of NOP receptor-deficient mice were tested in the mouse formalin test. Twenty microliters of 1.5% formalin solution was injected subcutaneously into the right hind paw causing a characteristic pattern of nociceptive behaviours (licking, biting and lifting of the injected paw). In control mice, the injection of formalin resulted in a classical biphasic nociceptive response with the first phase lasting from 0 to 10 min and the second phase from 15 to 45 min. UFP-101 at 10 nmol/mouse (but not at 1 nmol/mouse) produced antinociceptive action when injected intracerebroventricularly and a pronociceptive action when given intrathecally. Systemic administration of J-113397 (10 mg/kg, intravenously) and the genetic ablation of the NOP receptor gene both produced a significant increase of mouse nociceptive behaviour. Collectively, these results demonstrate that endogenous N/OFQ-NOP receptor signalling is activated during the mouse formalin test producing spinal antinociceptive and supraspinal pronociceptive effects. The overall effect of blocking NOP receptor signalling, by either systemic pharmacological antagonism or genetic ablation, indicates that the spinal antinociceptive action prevails over supraspinal pronociceptive effects.