GABA Receptors in the Acquisition and Extinction of Fear

描述(由Candient提供)：过去的巴甫洛夫条件反射程序已经证明，快速谷氨酸传递的变化在与获得、保留和消除恐惧相关的情绪记忆的形成中发挥着重要作用。然而，越来越多的证据表明，GABA能传递的变化也可能参与了这些过程。目前应用中的研究将有助于理解GABA能系统如何影响这些过程。这将通过：(1)鉴定和定量编码各种GABA相关基因的mRNAs的表达，这些基因可能在参与条件恐惧的获得、恢复和消退的分子过程中发挥作用；(2)检测训练诱导的GABA相关基因表达的变化，并检测巴甫洛夫恐惧获得、恢复和消退后杏仁核中GABA(A)结合的变化；以及(3)在L阿尔法-GABA(A)可诱导基因敲除小鼠中，检测杏仁核α1-GABA(A)受体在条件恐惧的获得、恢复和消退中的功能。

DESCRIPTION (provided by candidate): Past Pavlovian conditioning procedures have demonstrated that changes in fast glutamatergic transmission play an important role in the formation of emotional memories associated with the acquisition, retention, and extinction of fear. However, there are converging lines of evidence suggesting that changes in GABAergic transmission may also be involved in these processes. The research in the current application will help in understanding how GABAergic systems influence these processes. This will be accomplished by: (1) identifying and quantifying the expression of mRNAs encoding various GABA related genes which may play a role in the molecular processes involved in the acquisition, retrieval, and extinction of conditioned fear, (2) examining training-induce changes in the expression of GABA-related genes and examining changes in GABA(A) binding in the amygdala after the acquisition, retrieval, and extinction of Pavlovian fear, and (3), examining the function of amygdala alpha 1-GABA(A) receptors in the acquisition, retrieval, and extinction of conditioned fear in alpha l-GABA(A) inducible knockout mice.