Fig. 7: adBNSTSOM inputs to sNAcPV neurons regulate avoidance of anxiogenic stimuli.
a Sections co-stained with antibodies against RFPn (RV) (red) and riboprobes (green) for SOM; scale bar, 50 μm. b Approximately 60% of RV-infected neurons co-expressed SOM in the adBNST (n = 3 mice). c Schematic showing viral and optogenetic strategy for targeting specific somatostatin projections from adBNST to the sNAcPV neurons. d Representative images showing mCherry expression in adBNST (n = 3 mice, scale bar, 50 μm) and detection of the SOM afferent fibers around PV neurons within NAc shell (n = 3 mice, scale bar, 10 μm). e–f Mean time spent in the center (n = 9–10 per group, unpaired t test, ChR2: OFF vs. ON, t = 3.105, P = 0.0061; ON: mCherry vs. ChR2, t = 3.531, P = 0.0026) and open arms (n = 9–10 per group, unpaired t test, ChR2: OFF vs. ON, t = 2.105, P = 0.0496; ON: mCherry vs. ChR2, t = 2.302, P = 0.0342). g Mean velocity with or without light stimulation of the SOM terminals in sNAc (n = 9–10 per group, unpaired t test, ChR2: OFF vs. ON, t = 0.1105, P = 0.9132; ON: mCherry vs. ChR2, t = 1.407, P = 0.1773). h Representative mouse tracks during the novelty object interaction for both mCherry and ChR2 mice. i–j Mean interaction time and approaches in mCherry and ChR2 groups (n = 8–6 per group, unpaired t test, for i, t = 3.772, P = 0.0027; for j, t = 6.194, P < 0.0001). k Schematic showing social interaction tests. l–m Interaction time in both mCherry control and ChR2 mice (n = 11–12 per group, paired t test, for l, mCherry: t = 2.457, P = 0.0338; ChR2: t = 4.463, P = 0.0010; for m, mCherry: t = 2.245, P = 0.0486; ChR2: t = 2.992, P = 0.0122).
