Organization of the subcortical system governing defence and flight reactions in the cat

Molina, Álvaro; Hunsperger, R. W.

doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1962.sp006841

Cited by 352 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…There is also evidence that stimulation of the amygdala causes pupillary dilatation in the cat (Koikegami and Yoshida 1953;de Molina and Hunsberger 1962), probably via well known excitatory amygdalo-hypothalamic connections (Le Doux 1988;Davis 1992). It is thus possible that stimulation of the amygdala by conditioned aversive stimuli enhances the inhibitory inßuence of the hypothalamus on the Edinger-Westphal nucleus, resulting in enhancement of the inhibition of the pupillary light reßex.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Sensitivity of the fear-inhibited light reflex to diazepam

1998

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We have shown previously that pupil diameter increases and the amplitude of the pupillary light reflex is reduced when subjects are under threat of an aversive event (electric shock), and that light reflex amplitude correlates negatively with subjective anxiety. We have suggested that the "fear-inhibited light reflex" paradigm could be used as a laboratory model of human anxiety. In the present study, we examined whether two doses (5 mg and 10 mg) of the anxiolytic drug diazepam would antagonize the effects of threat on the pupillary light reflex. Twelve healthy male volunteers participated in three weekly sessions, each associated with one of three treatments (diazepam 5 mg or 10 mg or placebo) in a double-blind, balanced, cross-over design. The light reflex was recorded during either the anticipation of a shock ("threat" blocks) or periods in which no shocks were anticipated ("safe" blocks). At the end of each "threat" or "safe" block, subjects rated their anxiety using visual analogue scales. Two-factor ANOVA (treatment x condition) showed that diazepam treatment antagonized the effect of threat on light reflex amplitude in a dose-dependent manner but it did not affect the threat-induced increase in pupil diameter. Diazepam had no effect on the pupillary light reflex in the "safe" condition. Diazepam also reduced subjective anxiety and alertness in the threat condition. These results show the sensitivity of the threat-induced reduction of light reflex amplitude to anxiolytic drugs, and provide further evidence for the utility of the fear-inhibited light reflex paradigm as a laboratory model of human anxiety.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Sensitivity of the fear-inhibited light reflex to diazepam

1998

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“…This can be of importance since it has been suggested by Gray and Buffery (10) that the neural structures for aggressive dominant behaviour and for fearful submissive behaviour, respectively, are separate and that they form two separate systems for emotional behaviour (8)(9)(10). In the aggressive system, structures in amygdala would be concerned (3,8,10,16) and in the submissive system the hippocampus would participate (4, 7 ,8 , 10, 13, 14). Gray and Buffery (10) also consider that a symptom from the submissive system, in man, would be anxiety, to which plasma oestrogen levels seemed to be correlated in this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation of Symptoms in Pre-Menstrual Tension to Oestrogen and Progesterone Concentrations in Blood Plasma

Bäckström

Mattsson

1975

Neuropsychobiology

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15 women with premenstrual tension are rated in four symptom groups, anxiety-tension, asthenia-depression, irritability-explosiveness and feelings of swelling. The ratings of anxiety and irritability were also added to a separate group. Ratings were then correlated to plasma oestrogen and progesterone levels and oestrogen/progesterone ratios. There was a significant correlation between oestrogen levels and the anxiety, irritability, anxiety + irritability and depression groups. A correlation was also found between oestrogen/progesterone ratios and anxiety. No significant correlation was found between progesterone levels and symptom ratings.

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“…The independent, multiple circuits that process the different types of defensive reaction involve the medial, but not the lateral, hypothalamus (Gross and Canteras, ; Jordan, ). In the classical work by Ranson's group, the defense responses was localized lateral to the fornix (Kabat et al, ), whereas the observation of Hess and his school (Akert, ; Fernandez De Molina and Hunsperger, ; Hess and Brügger, ; Hunsperger, ) implicated the perifornical and pericommissural (Gansser) regions, a finding that has since been confirmed in several studies (Nakao, ; Wasman and Flynn, ). The defensive response to the presence of a predator involves the dorsal premammillary nucleus (Canteras, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

TheFoxb1‐expressing neurons of the ventrolateral hypothalamic parvafox nucleus project to defensive circuits

Bilella

Álvarez-Bolado

Celio

2016

J of Comparative Neurology

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The parvafox nucleus is an elongated structure that is lodged within the ventrolateral hypothalamus and lies along the optic tract. It comprises axially located parvalbumin (Parv)-positive neurons and a peripheral cuff of Foxb1-expressing ones. In the present study, injections of Cre-dependent adenoviral constructs were targeted to the ventrolateral hypothalamus of Foxb1/Cre mice to label specifically and map the efferent connections of the Foxb1-expressing subpopulation of neurons of the parvafox nucleus. These neurons project more widely than do the Parv-positive ones and implicate a part of the axons known to emanate from the lateral hypothalamus. High labeling densities were found in the dorsolateral and the upper lateral portion of the periaqueductal gray (PAG), the Su3 and PV2 nuclei of the ventrolateral PAG, the cuneiform nucleus, the mesencephalic reticular formation, and the superior colliculus. Intermediate densities of terminals were encountered in the septum, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, substantia innominata, various thalamic and hypothalamic nuclei, pedunculopontine nucleus, Barrington's nucleus, retrofacial nucleus, and retroambigual nucleus. Scattered terminals were observed in the olfactory bulbs, the prefrontal cortex and the lamina X of the cervical spinal cord. Because the terminals were demonstrated to express the glutamate transporter VGlut2, the projections are presumed to be excitatory. A common denominator of the main target sites of the Foxb1-positive axons of the parvafox nucleus appears to be an involvement in the defensive reactions to life-threatening situations. The hypothalamic parvafox nucleus may contribute to the autonomic manifestations that accompany the expression of emotions. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:2955-2981, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Organization of the subcortical system governing defence and flight reactions in the cat

Cited by 352 publications

References 13 publications

Sensitivity of the fear-inhibited light reflex to diazepam

Sensitivity of the fear-inhibited light reflex to diazepam

Correlation of Symptoms in Pre-Menstrual Tension to Oestrogen and Progesterone Concentrations in Blood Plasma

TheFoxb1‐expressing neurons of the ventrolateral hypothalamic parvafox nucleus project to defensive circuits

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