Noradrenaline Transmission Within the Ventral Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis is Critical for Fear Behavior Induced by Trimethylthiazoline, a Component of Fox Odor

Overview

Journal J Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2005 Jun 25

PMID 15976089

Citations 54

Authors

Markus Fendt

Stephanie Siegl

Bjorn Steiniger-Brach

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is involved in the mediation of fear behavior in rats. A previous study of our laboratory demonstrated that temporary inactivation of the BNST blocks fear behavior induced by exposure to trimethylthiazoline (TMT), a component of fox odor. The present study investigates whether noradrenaline release within the BNST is critical for TMT-induced fear behavior. First, we confirmed previous studies showing that the ventral BNST is the part of the BNST that receives the densest noradrenaline innervation. Second, using in vivo microdialysis, we showed that noradrenaline release within the BNST is strongly increased during TMT exposure, and that this increase can be blocked by local infusions of the alpha2-receptor blocker clonidine. Third, using intracerebral injections, we showed that clonidine injections into the ventral BNST, but not into neighboring brain sites, completely blocked TMT-induced potentiation of freezing behavior. The present data clearly show that the noradrenergic innervation of the ventral BNST is important for the full expression of behavioral signs of fear to the predator odor TMT.

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