State-specific gating of salient cues by midbrain dopaminergic input to basal amygdala

VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 functionally connects to BLA (Basolateral amygdalar nucleus) MBA:295 · Mouse

Glutamatergic currents from optogenetically activated VTA dopaminergic terminals were more frequent and larger in fast-spiking BA interneurons than in excitatory neurons, and were often strong enough to make them fire action potentials.

Fig. 7d-g

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VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 functionally connects to BLA (Basolateral amygdalar nucleus) MBA:295 · Mouse

In slices, ChR2 activation of VTA dopaminergic terminals evoked fast, DNQX-sensitive inward currents in a third of recorded BA neurons; the currents persisted in TTX plus 4-AP, showing monosynaptic glutamate co-release. Connection rates were similar in anterior and posterior BA.

Fig. 7b,c,e,h,i

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BLA (Basolateral amygdalar nucleus) MBA:295 projects to ACB (Nucleus accumbens) MBA:56 · Mouse

Injecting AAVretro encoding nuclear mCherry into NAc retrogradely labelled a subset of BA neurons that were then imaged in vivo.

Methods (GRIN lens implantation); Supplementary Fig. 13

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VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 projects to ACB (Nucleus accumbens) MBA:56 · Mouse

After Cre-dependent GCaMP6s expression in VTA of DAT-IRES-Cre mice, histology showed labelled dopaminergic axon fields in NAc as well as BA, beneath the implanted photometry fibers.

Fig. 4a

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VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 functionally connects to BLA glutamatergic principal neurons nt-wprma5fcrr · Mouse

Some BA excitatory neurons received glutamatergic currents from photostimulated VTA dopaminergic terminals. These currents were smaller and less common than in fast-spiking interneurons, depressed strongly with repetition, and did not trigger spikes.

Fig. 7e,f

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VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 projects to BLA (Basolateral amygdalar nucleus) MBA:295 · Mouse

Cre-dependent mCherry expressed in VTA dopamine neurons labelled axons within the basolateral complex that were concentrated in the basal nucleus rather than the lateral nucleus, across anterior, middle and posterior levels (4 mice).

Fig. 2a; Supplementary Fig. 3c

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