Fig. 5: Prefrontal Crh knockdown induces neuronal hyperactivity in association with reduced fear expression. | Neuropsychopharmacology

Fig. 5: Prefrontal Crh knockdown induces neuronal hyperactivity in association with reduced fear expression.

From: Pre-trauma cognitive traits predict fear generalization and associated prefrontal functioning in a longitudinal rodent model

Fig. 5

A Experimental design of targeted prefrontal knockdown of Crh gene expression in Experiment #6. To avoid interference with fear acquisition and memory consolidation, viral vector administration was performed two days after trauma exposure. B Illustration of virus injection sites in mPFC. C Crh shRNA and scrambled RNA (control) groups were counterbalanced for their freezing response exhibited during trauma exposure (p = 0.975). Crh knockdown induced significant reductions in fear expression across multiple contexts, including the trauma-associated (CtxA: p < 0.001) and safe contexts (CtxB1 and B2: p = 0.027; p = 0.001, respectively). D, E Crh shRNA markedly enhanced c-Fos activity in the mPFC (p = 0.006). F Correlation analysis revealing a significant positive relationship between prefrontal neuronal activity and generalized fear in controls. G The correlation between prefrontal neuronal activity and generalized fear was abolished following Crh knockdown. Data presented as mean ± SEM *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test, unpaired t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, or Spearman correlation.

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