Work

Prefrontal ErbB4-positive interneurons for avoidance

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: interneurons (B4INs) increased calcium transients in avoidance behaviors of freely moving mice. B4IN inhibition or activation is required for and sufficient to induce avoidance behaviors. B4INs receive monosynaptic inputs from glutamatergic neurons in the basal forebrain (BF), whose activation and suppression induce and inhibit avoidance, respectively. By registering target neurons of B4INs, we show that most avoidance-associated neurons are under the inhibitory control of B4INs, suggesting that B4INs act by suppressing excitatory neurons to mediate avoidance behaviors. Finally, pharmacological inhibition of ErbB4 reduces avoidance behaviors, suggesting that B4IN activity depends on ErbB4 kinase activity. These results reveal a causal role for B4INs in avoidance behaviors.

Source: Cell Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115628

Authors: Wanpeng Cui, Chen Shen, Wen-Cheng Xiong, Lin Mei

Institutions: Case Western Reserve University, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Capital Medical University, Chinese Institute for Brain Research

Language: English

Topic: Memory and Neural Mechanisms

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $5,620