The functional role and neural basis of relief states

在2021财年，为了测试中央杏仁核脑啡肽（CeA-ENK）细胞在缓解和恢复厌恶经历中的作用，我们进行了以下实验。行为实验：我们使用化学遗传的DREADD沉默来抑制CeA-ENK细胞，同时动物正在进行Kakenhi提议中解释的3种新行为分析（即从压力中恢复，热板防御，热板平台），使用非常大的动物样本量。所有的实验都是为了测量动物从短期厌恶经历中恢复的能力。此外，我们还开发了一个略有不同的热板防御测试版本，以及专注于从长期创伤经历中恢复的新分析。钙成像实验：我们收集了CeA-ENK细胞在厌恶事件（如热板，尾部悬挂和足部冲击）以及安全（应激源前后的回家期以及冲击期）期间的钙成像数据。到目前为止，我们有一个中等大小的动物样本。我们完成了对这些数据的初步分析。CeA-ENK细胞的传入和传出：我们开始通过狂犬病（目前比较cvs和sad狂犬病技术）和顺行AAV方法表征CeA-ENK细胞的输入和输出。

In FY2021, to test the role of central amygdala enkephalin (CeA-ENK) cells in relief and recuperation from aversive experiences, we conducted the experiments described below.Behavioral experiments: We inhibited the CeA-ENK cells using chemogenetic DREADD silencing while the animals were performing in 3 novel behavioral assays explained in the Kakenhi proposal (namely, recuperation from stress, hotplate defensive, hotplate platform), using a very large sample size of animals. All the tests were aimed at measuring animal's recuperation from short term aversive experiences. Plus, we developed a slightly different version of the hotplate defensive test as well as novel assay focusing recuperation from traumatic experiences in the long term.Calcium imaging experiments: We collected calcium imaging data from CeA-ENK cells during aversive events (like hotplate, tail suspension and footshocks), as well as safety (homecage periods before and after the stressors as well as peri-shock periods). So far, we have a mid-size sample of animals. We completed the preliminary steps of analysis for this data.Afferents and efferents of CeA-ENK cells: We started characterizing the inputs of CeA-ENK cells by rabies (currently comparing cvs and sad rabies techniques) and outputs by anterograde AAV approaches.