Journal article
The Amygdala Is a Chemosensor that Detects Carbon Dioxide and Acidosis to Elicit Fear Behavior
Cell (Cambridge), Vol.139(5), pp.1012-1021
11/25/2009
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.10.029
PMCID: PMC2808123
PMID: 19945383
Abstract
The amygdala processes and directs inputs and outputs that are key to fear behavior. However, whether it directly senses fear-evoking stimuli is unknown. Because the amygdala expresses acid-sensing ion channel-1a (ASIC1a), and ASIC1a is required for normal fear responses, we hypothesized that the amygdala might detect a reduced pH. We found that inhaled CO2 reduced brain pH and evoked fear behavior in mice. Eliminating or inhibiting ASIC1a markedly impaired this activity, and localized ASIC1a expression in the amygdala rescued the CO2-induced fear deficit of ASIC1a null animals. Buffering pH attenuated fear behavior, whereas directly reducing pH with amygdala microinjections reproduced the effect of CO2. These data identify the amygdala as an important chemosensor that detects hypercarbia and acidosis and initiates behavioral responses. They also give a molecular explanation for how rising CO2 concentrations elicit intense fear and provide a foundation for dissecting the bases of anxiety and panic disorders.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Amygdala Is a Chemosensor that Detects Carbon Dioxide and Acidosis to Elicit Fear Behavior
- Creators
- Adam E Ziemann - Medical Scientist Training Program, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USAJason E Allen - Department of Psychiatry, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USANader S Dahdaleh - Department of Neurosurgery, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USAIuliia I Drebot - Department of Psychiatry, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USAMatthew W Coryell - Neuroscience Program, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USAAmanda M Wunsch - Department of Psychiatry, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USACynthia M Lynch - Department of Internal Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USAFrank M Faraci - Department of Internal Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USAMatthew A Howard - Department of Neurosurgery, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USAMichael J Welsh - Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USAJohn A Wemmie - Department of Neurosurgery, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Cell (Cambridge), Vol.139(5), pp.1012-1021
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.cell.2009.10.029
- PMID
- 19945383
- PMCID
- PMC2808123
- ISSN
- 0092-8674
- eISSN
- 1097-4172
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/25/2009
- Academic Unit
- Neurology; Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Psychiatry; Pathology; Neuroscience and Pharmacology; Neurosurgery; Otolaryngology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984003990802771
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