Fig. 2: Negative-valence neurons in the BLA send axons predominantly to D1-MSNs in the DMS. | Nature Communications

Fig. 2: Negative-valence neurons in the BLA send axons predominantly to D1-MSNs in the DMS.

From: Persistent enhancement of basolateral amygdala-dorsomedial striatum synapses causes compulsive-like behaviors in mice

Fig. 2

a Schematic and representative results of retrograde (top) and anterograde (bottom) tracing of amygdalostriatal projections. The tracing experiment was repeated 5 times with similar results. b, d, e PRST-responsive BLA neurons send projections to the DMS. There was a significant increase in the number of c-Fos positive neurons across multiple BLA positions in PRST-exposed animals compared to control (two-sided Mann–Whitney test: −1.0, U = 0, P = 0.0286; −1.5, U = 0, P = 0.0159; −2.0, U = 0, P = 0.0159; −2.3, U = 0, P = 0.0571). However, the anterior BLA (aBLA, AP –1.5) displayed a significantly higher number of c-Fos signals than other positions and colocalization with Retrobeads R (two-sided Mann–Whitney test: −1.0, U = 1, P = 0.0571; −1.5, U = 0, P = 0.0159; −2.0, U = 0, P = 0.0159; −2.3, U = 1.5, P = 0.1429) (Control, n = 5; PRST, n = 4). c, f, g Reward exposure resulted in a trend of increase in c-Fos expression in the posterior amygdala (pBLA, AP –2.3). (two-sided Mann–Whitney test: −1.0, U = 4.5, P = 0.119; −1.5, U = 4, P = 0.2857; −2.0, U = 4, P = 0.1905; −2.3, U = 0, P = 0.0159). However, few c-Fos-positive cells colocalized with Retrobead R. (two-sided Mann–Whitney test: −1.0, U = 7.5, P = 0.4444; −1.5, U = 6, P = 1; −2.0, U = 6, P = 0.4444; −2.3, U = 7.5, P = 0.4444). (Control, n = 5; Reward, n = 5). h Target specificity of amygdalostriatal projections. AAV-tdTomato was injected into the BLA of D1-EGFP mice (left) or D2-EGFP mice (right). Representative images and quantification are shown (D1-MSNs, n = 657 cells from five mice; D2-MSNs, n = 276 cells from four mice). Two-sided unpaired t-test: t = 27.67, df = 7, P = 2.069e−08. i Patch-like patterns of the BLA-DMS inputs are colocalized with mu-opioid receptor (MOR)-positive striosomes in the DMS. Axon terminals from BLA (green), MOR signals (red), and Hoechst signals (blue) in a putative striosome structure are shown. j Schematic of viral injection for electrophysiological recordings using optical stimulation. k Left, representative traces of optical stimulation-evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (oEPSCs) in D1-MSN neurons (tdTomato+) and D2-MSNs (tdTomato-). Blue rectangles indicate times of light stimulation (470 nm, 1 ms). Different colors (light to dark green or light gray to black) indicate oEPSC responses to different stimulation light intensities (10%, 15%, 20%, and 30% of maximal light power (15 mW)). Right, stimulus-response curves of oEPSCs recorded in D1-MSNs (n = 5 cells from 5 mice) and D2-MSNs (n = 6 cells from 6 mice). Two-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey-Kramer test: F1,42 = 27.2232, P = 4.567e−06.

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