NMDA-Mediated Activation of the Medial Amygdala Initiates a Downstream Neuroendocrine Memory Responsible for Pseudopregnancy in the Female Rat

Polston, Eva K.; Heitz, Molly; Barnes, William S.; Cardamone, Kristen; Erskine, Mary S.

doi:10.1523/jneurosci.21-11-04104.2001

Cited by 36 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…The specific role of the medial amygdala in sexual activities is consistent also with the results obtained with pharmacological approach. For instance, Polston et al (376) showed that pharmacological activation of the medial amygdala with the glutamate agonist NMDA initiated nocturnal prolactin surges that cause a pseudopregnancy state in female rats. Such prolactin surges are normally evoked by vaginocervical stimulation.…”

Section: Medial Amygdalamentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional Internal Complexity of Amygdala: Focus on Gene Activity Mapping After Behavioral Training and Drugs of Abuse

Knapska¹,

Radwańska²,

Werka³

et al. 2007

Physiological Reviews

137

134

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The amygdala is a heterogeneous brain structure implicated in processing of emotions and storing the emotional aspects of memories. Gene activity markers such as c-Fos have been shown to reflect both neuronal activation and neuronal plasticity. Herein, we analyze the expression patterns of gene activity markers in the amygdala in response to either behavioral training or treatment with drugs of abuse and then we confront the results with data on other approaches to internal complexity of the amygdala. c-Fos has been the most often studied in the amygdala, showing specific expression patterns in response to various treatments, most probably reflecting functional specializations among amygdala subdivisions. In the basolateral amygdala, c-Fos expression appears to be consistent with the proposed role of this nucleus in a plasticity of the current stimulus-value associations. Within the medial part of the central amygdala, c-Fos correlates with acquisition of alimentary/gustatory behaviors. On the other hand, in the lateral subdivision of the central amygdala, c-Fos expression relates to attention and vigilance. In the medial amygdala, c-Fos appears to be evoked by emotional novelty of the experimental situation. The data on the other major subdivisions of the amygdala are scarce. In conclusion, the studies on the gene activity markers, confronted with other approaches involving neuroanatomy, physiology, and the lesion method, have revealed novel aspects of the amygdala, especially pointing to functional heterogeneity of this brain region that does not fit very well into contemporarily active debate on serial versus parallel information processing within the amygdala.

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Section: Medial Amygdalamentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional Internal Complexity of Amygdala: Focus on Gene Activity Mapping After Behavioral Training and Drugs of Abuse

Knapska¹,

Radwańska²,

Werka³

et al. 2007

Physiological Reviews

137

134

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The orexigenic effect of neuropeptide Y needs the concomitant activation of N-Methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors in this same area (Lee and Stanley, 2005). Notably, glutamate immunoreactivity and receptors can be found in the MePD (Polston et al, 2001;Simmons and Yahr, 2003;Bian et al, 2008;de Castilhos et al, 2008). Afferent excitatory pathways to this subnucleus use glutamate as neurotransmitter to code for primary or multimodal sensory information (Bian et al, 2008), probably relevant for the modulation of feeding behavior (McDonald, 1998;Berthoud, 2002).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Glutamate Microinjected in the Posterodorsal Medial Amygdala Induces Subtle Increase in the Consumption of a Three‐Choice Macronutrient Self‐Selection Diet in Male Rats

Rosa¹,

Goularte²,

Trindade³

et al. 2011

The Anatomical Record

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Previous studies have involved the ''posterodorsal'' amygdaloid area with the control of food intake and the development of obesity in rats. Within this wide region, the posterodorsal medial amygdala (MePD) has connections with specific hypothalamic nuclei that increase feeding behavior and modulate energy balance. Glutamate is the major brain excitatory neurotransmitter, remarkably enhances centrally mediated food consumption, and is abundantly found in the MePD. Here, it was studied the effects of saline (0.3 lL) and glutamate (45 nM or 45 mM/0.3 lL) directly microinjected in the MePD of adult male rats on the consumption of a three-choice (high-carbohydrate, high-protein, or high-lipid) macronutrient selective diet. The rat adaptation to the experimental procedures and its body weight gain were continuously evaluated. Control data for all groups and results following microinjections were obtained after a fasting protocol. Feeding behavior was evaluated during the subsequent 2-hr period of free access to the selective diets. Both doses of glutamate microinjected in the MePD did not lead to a higher percentage of animals consuming any of the different diets (P > 0.05), although glutamate 45 mM induced a higher consumption of the high-carbohydrate diet when compared with presurgery control values (P < 0.01). Interestingly, present data indicate that glutamate in the male MePD induces only a subtle modification in the feeding behavior and suggest that large electrolytic lesions of the ''posterodorsal'' amygdaloid region might have affected other regions to alter drastically meal size consumption in rats. Anat Rec, 294:1226Rec, 294: -1232Rec, 294: , 2011. V V C 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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“…We have shown previously that NMDA receptor activation within the MEApd is required for mating-induced P/PSP (Polston et al, 2001). Application of the selective NMDA receptor antagonist AP-5 to the MEApd 15 min before mating completely prevented P/PSP, whereas the same treatment given 90 min after mating had no effect (Polston et al, 2001). Therefore, prolonged changes in neuroendocrine function are initiated through actions of glutamate within the MEApd.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…This area is unique compared with other matingresponsive brain areas in that mating-induced c-fos expression is proportionate to the number and rate of intromissions the female receives (Polston and Erskine, 1995;Erskine and Hanrahan, 1997) and is completely blocked by bilateral transection of the pelvic nerve that innervates the uterine cervix and vagina (Rowe and Erskine, 1993). We have shown previously that NMDA receptor activation within the MEApd is required for mating-induced P/PSP (Polston et al, 2001). Application of the selective NMDA receptor antagonist AP-5 to the MEApd 15 min before mating completely prevented P/PSP, whereas the same treatment given 90 min after mating had no effect (Polston et al, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Substantial evidence suggests that initial summation of inputs from VCS occurs within the posterodorsal medial amygdala (MEApd) (Rowe and Erskine, 1993;Tetel et al, 1993;Polston et al, 2001). This area is unique compared with other matingresponsive brain areas in that mating-induced c-fos expression is proportionate to the number and rate of intromissions the female receives (Polston and Erskine, 1995;Erskine and Hanrahan, 1997) and is completely blocked by bilateral transection of the pelvic nerve that innervates the uterine cervix and vagina (Rowe and Erskine, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Coding for the Initiation of Pseudopregnancy by Temporally Patterned Activation of Amygdalar NMDA Receptors

Lehmann¹,

McKellar²,

Erskine³

2005

J. Neurosci.

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Female rats modulate the number and interval between the intromissions the female receives during mating. This patterned vaginocervical stimulation (VCS) is critical for triggering long-term changes in prolactin (PRL) secretion necessary for pregnancy or pseudopregnancy (P/PSP). Previous work has shown that NMDA receptor activation in the posterodorsal medial amygdala (MEApd) is required at the time of mating for VCS to induce the twice-daily PRL surges characteristic of P/PSP. The current studies examined whether patterned activation of glutamate receptors within the MEApd induces P/PSP. In anesthetized, cycling females, three 0.27 g NMDA infusions given at 30 min intervals into the MEApd initiated P/PSP, whereas a single NMDA infusion of the same total dose (0.8 g) had no effect. In conscious, freely behaving females, three infusions of an excitatory amino acid (EAA) mixture applied at the same interval were more effective in initiating P/PSP and nocturnal PRL surges than were single infusions at the same or higher concentrations. Infusion intervals of 5 and 60 min as well as continuous 1 h infusion did not induce P/PSP. Finally, a synergistic effect was observed between EAA and mating stimulation, because a subthreshold EAA infusion combined with subthreshold numbers of intromissions induced P/PSP. These results demonstrate that repeated, properly spaced, temporally discreet periods of glutamate receptor activation within the MEApd, which mimic mating stimulation, encode for P/PSP. Such findings suggest that single intromissions normally release individually subthreshold quanta of glutamate within the MEApd that summate to induce P/PSP.

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NMDA-Mediated Activation of the Medial Amygdala Initiates a Downstream Neuroendocrine Memory Responsible for Pseudopregnancy in the Female Rat

Cited by 36 publications

References 39 publications

Functional Internal Complexity of Amygdala: Focus on Gene Activity Mapping After Behavioral Training and Drugs of Abuse

Functional Internal Complexity of Amygdala: Focus on Gene Activity Mapping After Behavioral Training and Drugs of Abuse

Glutamate Microinjected in the Posterodorsal Medial Amygdala Induces Subtle Increase in the Consumption of a Three‐Choice Macronutrient Self‐Selection Diet in Male Rats

Coding for the Initiation of Pseudopregnancy by Temporally Patterned Activation of Amygdalar NMDA Receptors

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