Role of NMDA receptors in the lateralized potentiation of amygdala afferent and efferent neural transmission produced by predator stress

The present study investigated the role of NMDA receptors in behavioral and neuroplastic changes in amygdala efferent (central amygdala to periaqueductal gray-ACE-PAG) and amygdala afferent (ventral angular bundle to basolateral amygdala-VAB-BLA) pathways in response to predator stress. Effects on brain and behavioral response to predator stress of competitive block of NMDA receptors with a dose of 10 mg/kg of CPP (3-(2-carboxypiperazin4-yl)propyl-l-phosphonic acid) were studied. Behavioral response to stress was tested with hole board, elevated plus maze, light/dark box, social interaction and acoustic startle tests. CPP was administered i.p. 30 min prior to predator stress and blocked the effects of predator on some but not all behaviors measured 8-9 days later. Effects of predator stress and CPP on potentials evoked in the PAG by single pulse stimulation of the ACE and in the BLA by single pulse stimulation of VAB were assessed 10-11 days after predator stress. Predator stress potentiated ACE-PAG evoked potentials in the right but not the left hemisphere, replicating previous work. Predator stress potentiated VAB-BLA transmission in both hemispheres 10-11 days after predator stress. Right hemisphere VAB-BLA potentiation replicated and extended past studies showing right hemisphere potentiation at 1 and 9 days after stress. Left VAB-BLA potentiation effects differed from the long term depression seen in VAB-BLA at 1 and 9 days after stress in previous studies. CPP blocked predator stress-induced potentiation of ACE-PAG and VAB-BLA evoked potentials in the right hemisphere. CPP did not block left VAB-BLA potentiation, rather CPP amplified it. Left hemisphere effects of CPP were interpreted as reflecting block of NMDA dependent long term depression, which unmasked a non-NMDA dependent potentiation. Taken together, the findings add to a body of evidence suggesting that a syndrome of behavioral changes follows predator stress. Components of this syndrome likely depend on changes in separable neural substrates. Potentiation of ACE-PAG and VAB-BLA evoked potentials in the right hemisphere likely mediates a subset of changes in behavior. Moreover, a medial ACE-PAG pathway is implicated in mediating stress-induced changes in startle amplitude. In contrast, a lateral ACE-PAG pathway is implicated in mediating changes in startle habituation. Finally, consistent with cat and human studies, the right hemisphere appears particularly important in long term response to stress.