Inhibitory effect of activation of GABAA receptor in the central nucleus of amygdala on the sodium intake in the sodium-depleted rat

The present study investigated the effects of a microinjection of GABAA receptor agonist (muscimol) and antagonist (bicuculline) into the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) in sodium-depleted rats. We measured the sodium intake and identified the neuronal activation in the brainstem induced by activating the GABAA receptors in the CeA using Fos immunohistochemistry. Muscimol (0.20, 0.35 or 0.50 nmol, in 0.2 μl) that was injected bilaterally into the CeA decreased the 0.3 M NaCl and water intake in a dose-dependent manner. Microinjection of 0.02 nmol/0.2 μl muscimol also decreased the NaCl intake, but had no effect on the water intake. The inhibitory effect of muscimol (0.20 nmol) on the sodium and water intake could be blocked by pretreatment with bicuculline intra-CeA microinjection (0.4 nmol). However, bilateral injections of bicuculline alone into the CeA did not affect the NaCl or water intake. Furthermore, microinjection of muscimol (0.20 nmol) into the CeA increased the number of Fos-like immunoreactive (FLI) neurons in the caudal and intermediate parts of the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (cNTS and iNTS) and the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN). These results suggest that GABAA receptors within the CeA may be involved in mediating the sodium intake in the sodium-depleted rat, and the cNTS, iNTS and LPBN were probably involved in this mechanism.

► Intra-CeA muscimol inhibited the sodium and water intake in sodium-depleted rats.
► Intra-CeA muscimol-induced FLI expression in cNTS, iNTS and LPBN.
► CeA–PBN–NTS pathway is involved in mediating the sodium intake.