Fig. 1: Ventral striatum projecting BLA neurons arise from the BA and are comprised of Drd1+ and Drd2+ neurons. | Molecular Psychiatry

Fig. 1: Ventral striatum projecting BLA neurons arise from the BA and are comprised of Drd1+ and Drd2+ neurons.

From: Directing negative emotional states through parallel genetically-distinct basolateral amygdala pathways to ventral striatum subregions

Fig. 1

A Schematic of approach for identifying BLA Drd1+ and Drd2+ inputs to the NAc. B Example of a NAc injection in Drd1-Cre (top) and Drd2-Cre (bottom) mice (ac = anterior commissure, NAcC & NAcSh = nucleus accumbens core & shell, respectively), and C example images of NAc projecting Drd1+ (top) or Drd2+ (bottom) neurons along the anterior-posterior axis of the BLA. Scale bars = 500 µm. Di Anti-NeuN and anti-DsRed immunofluorescence images to identify the size of the NAc projecting BLA neural population. Scale bars = 40 µm. Dii Quantification of the Drd1 (**p < 0.01, n = 3, 2/1/sex) or Drd2 (*p < 0.05, n = 3, 2/1/sex) expressing BLA cells along the entire AP axis that project to the NAc (Two-way ANOVA, ROI main effect F(1,8) = 26.65, p = 0.001). E Schematic of approach for identifying BLA Drd1+ and Drd2+ inputs to the TuS (TuS = tubular striatum). F Example of a TuS injection in Drd1-Cre (top) and Drd2-Cre (bottom) mice, and G example images of TuS projecting Drd1+ (top) or Drd2+ (bottom) neurons along the anterior-posterior axis of the BLA. Scale bars = 500 µm. Hi Anti-NeuN and anti-DsRed immunofluorescence images to identify the size of the NAc projecting BLA neural population. Scale bars = 40 µm. Hii Quantification of the Drd1 (****p < 0.0001, n = 3, 2/1/sex) or Drd2 (****p < 0.0001, n = 3, 2/1/sex) expressing TuS projecting BLA cells along the entire AP axis (Two-way ANOVA, ROI main effect F(1,8) = 295.3, p < 0.001). Mean ± SEM.

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