Fig. 2: Optical stimulation of CRH+ BLA-origin axons in the NAc evokes exclusively IPSCs.
From: Stress-induced plasticity of a CRH/GABA projection disrupts reward behaviors in mice
a Schematic of experimental design for electrophysiology recordings in the whole-cell patch-clamp configuration. Horizontal brain slices containing BLA and NAc from CRH-ires-CRE mice that were injected with Cre-dependent ChR2-EYFP in BLA. b Representative traces of optically evoked IPSCs (oIPSCs). These were blocked in the presence of GABAA receptor antagonist picrotoxin. c A neurobiotin (brown) filled neuron from which oIPSCs were recorded. Note spines (arrows) suggesting the cell is a medium spiny neuron (MSN). Arrowheads denote ChR2-expressing boutons from BLA-origin CRH+ axons (CRH; blue) on the soma. d oIPSCs amplitudes pre and post picrotoxin (n = 7 neurons, 5 mice). e Time-course plot of normalized oIPSCs amplitudes throughout the recording and following application of picrotoxin. Black triangles in e denote trace recordings in b and timepoint analysis in d and e. f Representative trace of a NAc cell showing no response from optically evoked EPSC (oEPSC) at −70 mV, obtained after verifying oIPSCs at 0 mV in the presence of picrotoxin. g Representative trace showing spontaneous EPSCs (sEPSCs) were still present; gray box shows magnified view recording. In d and e, bars represent mean. In e circles represent mean ± SEM. Two-sided paired t-tests in d and e. d oIPSCs (current) pre vs. post PTX: P = 0.0338. e oIPSCs (normalized) pre vs. post PTX: P = 0.0004. 3 V = third ventricle, Hip Hippocampus, LV lateral ventricle. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
