Coordination of social behaviors by the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

Abstract

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a sexually dimorphic, neuropeptide‐rich node of the extended amygdala that has been implicated in responses to stress, drugs of abuse, and natural rewards. Its function is dysregulated in neuropsychiatric disorders that are characterized by stress‐ or drug‐induced alterations in mood, arousal, motivation, and social behavior. However, compared to the BNST’s role in mood, arousal, and motivation, its role in social behavior has remained relatively understudied. Moreover, the precise cell types and circuits underlying the BNST’s role in social behavior have only recently begun to be explored using modern neuroscience techniques. Here, we systematically review the existing literature investigating the neurobiological substrates within the BNST that contribute to the coordination of various sex‐dependent and sex‐independent social behavioral repertoires, focusing largely on pharmacological and circuit‐based behavioral studies in rodents. We suggest that the BNST coordinates social behavior by promoting appropriate assessment of social contexts to select relevant behavioral outputs and that disruption of socially relevant BNST systems by stress and drugs of abuse may be an important factor in the development of social dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Impact of Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol Exposure on Social Investigation, Social Preference, and Neuronal Activation in cFos-LacZ Male and Female Rats

“…In water-exposed control males, β-gal expression in the dBNST was positively correlated with social preference, while AIE reversed this relationship, suggesting AIE-associated alterations in the role of the dBNST in social preference. Indeed, the BNST has been shown to assess social contexts in order to select an appropriate behavioral response, while alterations of socially relevant BNST systems by different insults result in social dysfunctions ( Flanigan and Kash, 2020 ). In addition, social preference was negatively correlated with activation of the vOFC and LS in AIE-exposed males, whereas it was negatively correlated with activation of the NAcC and NAcSh in AIE-exposed females.…”

Somatostatin Neurons in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis Play a Sex-Dependent Role in Binge Drinking

“…Importantly, both the BNST and SST broadly play a larger role than just in the modulation of alcohol consumption. The BNST has rich connectivity with other important structures in the limbic system and plays a role in behaviors such as sustained fear, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, feeding, and social anxiety (Flanigan & Kash, 2020; Hardaway et al, 2015; Sullivan et al, 2004). Upregulation of SST neurons throughout the brain has been shown to ameliorate anxiety-like and depressive-like behavior (Fuchs et al, 2017).…”

The effects of predator odor (TMT) exposure and mGlu3NAM pretreatment on lasting behavioral and molecular adaptations in the insular cortex and BNST

“…Specifically, mGlu 2/3 agonism (LY379268) potentiated foot-shock induced c-Fos increases in the dorsolateral BNST [69]. Therefore, because the BNST is known for its involvement in lasting adaptation to stress [38, 70], these NMDA receptor adaptations could in part underlie the lasting anxiolytic and ASR habituation effects of mGlu 3 NAM.…”

“…Clinically, anticipation of unpredictable stress increased BOLD signal in the insular cortex as assessed by fMRI in human subjects [31]. The BNST is also associated with stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders [37] and animals models of stress adaptations [38]. For example, restraint stress in mice increased c-Fos immunoreactivity in CRF-expressing neurons of the dorsal BNST [39].…”