A role for PACAPergic LPBn afferents in the BNST in anxiety-like responding
higgins, mallie
higgins, mallie
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Abstract
Understanding the neural circuitry underlying aberrant stress and emotional behavior is critical for the improvement of treatments for stress-related psychiatric disorders. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) has been long-studied for its roles in many stress-related pathologies such as anxiety, pain, depression, and addiction. Our prior work has demonstrated that pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) receptor activation in the BNST is both necessary and sufficient for many of the behavioral consequences of chronic stress, including increased anxiety-like behavior in both rats and mice. While the BNST contains local PACAP-expressing neurons, a major source of afferent PACAP is the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBn). We have reported that chemogenetic activation of LPBn PACAP afferents in the BNST increases anxiety-like behavior; here we continue our efforts to characterize the role of LPBn PACAP afferents to the BNST in stress- and anxiety-responding. We demonstrate that the anxiogenic effect of LPBn PACAP afferent stimulation requires PACAP receptor activation. Furthermore, PAC1 receptor antagonism prior to activation of PACAPergic LPBn afferents in the BNST decreased anxiety-like behavior. These results suggest that PACAP release from LPBn neurons in the BNST may be a critical pathway in stress- and anxiety-like responding.
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Date
1/1/2026
Student Status
Senior (Graduating in 2026)
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Poster
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Neuroscience
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College of Arts and Sciences
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Clinical Science