Coordinate regulation of noradrenergic and serotonergic brain regions by amygdalar neurons

Based on the importance of the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) system and the dorsal raphe nucleus-serotonergic (DRN-5-HT) system in stress-related pathologies, additional understanding of brain regions coordinating their activity is of particular interest. One such candidate is the amygdalar complex, and specifically, the central nucleus (CeA), which has been implicated in emotional arousal and is known to send monosynaptic afferent projections to both these regions. Our present data using dual retrograde tract tracing is the first to demonstrate a population of amygdalar neurons that project in a collateralized manner to the LC and DRN, indicating that amygdalar neurons are positioned to coordinately regulate the LC and DRN, and links these brain regions by virtue of a common set of afferents. Further, we have also characterized the phenotype of a population of these collaterally projecting neurons from the amygdala as containing corticotropin releasing factor or dynorphin, two peptides heavily implicated in the stress response. Understanding the co-regulatory influences of this limbic region on 5HT and NE regions may help fill a gap in our knowledge regarding neural circuits impacting these systems and their adaptations in stress.