All-optical presynaptic plasticity induction by photoactivated adenylyl cyclase targeted to axon terminals

PB (Parabrachial nucleus) MBA:867 functionally connects to CEA (Central amygdalar nucleus) MBA:536 · Mouse

In acute slices, red-light activation of C1ChrimsonSA expressed in parabrachial axons evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents in whole-cell recorded CeA neurons (isolated with picrotoxin), and photoactivation of presynaptically targeted bPAC potentiated these currents with a concurrent drop in paired-pulse ratio, indicating a functional monosynaptic excitatory PB-to-CeA input with presynaptically regulated release.

Figs. 4A–4D, 5A–5B

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PB (Parabrachial nucleus) MBA:867 projects to CEA (Central amygdalar nucleus) MBA:536 · Mouse

AAVs encoding bPAC variants and C1ChrimsonSA-tdTomato were stereotaxically delivered to the lateral parabrachial nucleus, and labeled axons and bouton-like puncta were seen in the central amygdala; the terminal puncta overlapped with the presynaptic marker VGLUT2, confirming that parabrachial axons terminate in CeA.

Figs. 2A–2D, 3A–3C

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5) agrees.