Date of Completion

Spring 5-1-2024

Thesis Advisor(s)

Linnaea Ostroff

Honors Major

Biological Sciences

Disciplines

Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins | Cells | Nervous System | Tissues

Abstract

This study delves into the cellular composition and functional dynamics of the lateral amygdala (LA), a crucial brain region implicated in emotional and auditory processing/learning. Utilizing IHC, ultrathin serial sectioning (Ultraplex Method), and RNAscope, distinct cell types are characterized within the LA based on calcium-binding proteins (CBPs) and inhibitory markers such as GABA. Despite a modest sample size, a diverse array of cell types are identified, with calbindin-positive neurons prominently emerging in inhibitory cells. Notably, GABA intensity varies depending on cell identity and marker colocalization, hinting at complex regulatory mechanisms involving GABAergic signaling and CBPs. Analysis of vesicular glutamate transporter (VGlut) expression patterns reveals differential expression of VGlut1 and VGlut2 in excitatory cells, with VGlut1 predominating. A study of the colocalization of CBPs, vesicular transporters, and Piccolo, a scaffolding protein in the excitatory presynaptic neuron, unveils preferential associations between specific markers. This provides insight into synaptic interactions and neurotransmitter release dynamics within LA circuitry. Additionally, RNAscope analysis confirms the cortical origin of cell populations used in IHC experimentation and highlights the expression patterns of genes implicated in memory formation and sensory processing, specifically CaMKIIa, Gad1, and CCK. This research contributes valuable insights into the neural infrastructure underlying the pathway from the auditory cortex to the LA. It paves the way for future studies illustrating the complex neural circuits mediating adaptive behavior and how that behavior alters the composition of GABAergic neurons in the cortex-amygdala pathway.

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