Differential effects of mGluR7 and mGluR8 activation on pain-related synaptic activity in the amygdala

► mGluR7 acts as a gatekeeper to regulate information flow to the output nucleus. ► mGluR7 acts through disinhibition (suppression of feedforward inhibition). ► mGluR7 gatekeeper function is lost in a pain model. ► mGluR8 inhibits excitatory transmission only in the pain state. ► Both subtypes act presynaptically to amygdala output neurons.