Summary Basolateral amygdala (BLA) principle cells are capable of driving and antagonizing behaviors of opposing valence. BLA neurons project to the central amygdala (CeA), which also participates in negative and positive behaviors. However, the CeA has primarily been studied as the site for negative behaviors and the causal role for CeA circuits underlying appetitive behaviors is poorly understood. Here we identified several genetically distinct populations of CeA neurons that mediate appetitive behaviors and dissected the BLA to CeA circuit for appetitive behaviors. Protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 1B+ BLA pyramidal neurons to dopamine receptor 1+ CeA neurons define a pathway for promoting appetitive behaviors, while R-spondin 2+ BLA pyramidal neurons to dopamine receptor 2+ CeA neurons define a pathway for suppressing appetitive behaviors. These data reveal genetically defined neural circuits in the amygdala that promote and suppress appetitive behaviors analogous to the direct and indirect pathway of the basal ganglia.

Key Points mRNA transfection is an effective tool to simultaneously engineer MSCs for enhanced homing and improved secretome. MSCs can be systemically targeted to sites of inflammation to achieve therapeutically relevant concentrations of biological agents.