Neurexin 3 Regulates Synaptic Connections Between Central Amygdala Neurons and Excitable Cells of the Lateral Parabrachial Nucleus in Rats with Varicella Zoster Induced Orofacial Pain

CEA (central amygdaloid nucleus) UBERON:0002883 projects to PB (Parabrachial nucleus) UBERON:0007634 · Rat

Cre-dependent synaptophysin-mRuby expressed in GAD1-positive central amygdala neurons of Gad1-iCre rats produced red synaptophysin puncta in the lateral parabrachial nucleus, where they colocalized with CaMKIIa-EGFP-labelled excitable neurons across serial optical z-sections; puncta per CaMKIIa cell and the number of CaMKIIa cells bearing puncta were reduced by Nrxn3 knockdown in the central amygdala and puncta number was increased by whisker-pad VZV injection.

Figs. 4C–N, 5A–R

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CEA (central amygdaloid nucleus) UBERON:0002883 projects to PB (Parabrachial nucleus) UBERON:0007634 · Rat

Synaptophysin-mRuby terminals from GAD1-positive central amygdala neurons were found on lateral parabrachial cells that were both CaMKIIa-EGFP positive and immunoreactive for prodynorphin; the number of such prodynorphin/EGFP cells contacted by synaptophysin puncta fell after Nrxn3 knockdown in the central amygdala.

Figs. 6D–I

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