Bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

The BNST is a forebrain structure that represents one of the key neural substrates regulating stress responses and negative affective states, such as anxiety, fear, and aversion (Cecchi et al., 2002 Delfs et al., 2000 Fendt el al., 2005 Nakagawa et al., 2005 Sahuque et al., 2006 Sullivan et al., 2004 Walker and Davis, 1997). Anatomical studies have demonstrated that the BNST receives 

Because the CPA test is based on associative learning between a noxious stimulus-induced aversive affect and a neutral environmental context, it is difficult to determine whether the attenuation of CPA is due to the impairment of associative learning or the suppression of the primary aversive affect. To address this issue, we examined whether intra-vBNST injection of isoproterenol, a /3-adrenoceptor agonist, produced CPA even in the absence of formalin-induced noxious stimulus. The results showed the aversive effect of intra-vBNST injection of isoproterenol, indicating that the activation of /3-adrenoceptors within the vBNST is sufficient to produce the negative affective states. Therefore, the attenuation of F-CPA and A-CPA by the blockade of /3-adrenoceptors within the vBNST may be due to the reduction of the primary aversive affect. 

It is well know that /3-adrenoceptors couple to adenylate cyclases to activate a protein kinase A (PKA), but no direct evidence exists for the involvement of the /3-adrenoceptor-PKA signaling pathway in the affective component of pain. Thus, we examined the effect of intra-vBNST administration of a selective PKA inhibitor on isoproterenol- and pain-induced aversion. CPA induced by the intra-vBNST injection of isoproterenol was reversed by the coinjection of Rp-cyclic adenosine monophosphorothioate (Rp-cAMPS), a selective PKA inhibitor. Furthermore, intra-vBNST injection of Rp-cAMPS dose-dependently attenuated the F-CPA. These data suggest that PKA activation within the vBNST via the enhancement of /3-adrenergic transmission is important for the negative affective component of pain (Fig. 3). 

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The shell of the nucleus accumbens, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and the central nucleus of the amygdala, together referred to as the extended amygdala, may play a role in diug addiction. 

Pali), P and Stamford, JA (1993) Real-time monitoring of endogenous noradrenaline release in rat brain slices using fast cyclic voltammetry. 2. Operational characteristics of the alpha2 autoreceptors in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, pars ventralis. Brain Res. 608 134-140. 

Figure 7.4 Summary of some of the wide array of afferent and efferent connections of midbrain dopaminergic neurons (SN/A9, RRF/A8, and VTA/A10 in center of figure). This emphasizes their potential involvement in coordination of seemingly disparate behaviors inclusive of the sleep-wake state of the organism. Abbreviations BP, blood pressure BST, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis CEA, central nucleus of the amygdala MEA, midbrain extrapyramidal area NTS, nucleus of the solitary tract O2, oxygen tension PPN, pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus RRF, retrorubral field SN, substantia nigra VTA, ventral tegmental area.

Georges F., Aston-Jones G. (2001). Potent regulation of midbrain dopamine neurons by the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. J. Neurosci. 21(16), RC160. 

Basal forebrain accumbens nuclei, ventral palbdum, bed nucleus of the stria terminahs, diagonal band bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, diagonal band, ventral pallidum... 

A major side-effect of morphine is respiratory depression. Opiates are believed to cause this effect via actions in brainstem nuclei, fi receptor immunoreactivity and mRNA were detected in neurons of the nucleus of the solitary tract, nucleus ambiguous, and parabrachial nucleus. mRNA was detected in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis which projects to the nucleus of the solitary tract, fi receptor immunoreactivity is found in the nucleus of the solitary tract and dorsal rhizotomy reduced receptor immunoreactivity in the nucleus suggesting a presynaptic localization of the receptor. 

The amygdala is perhaps the best-studied, and most strongly implicated, brain structure in anxiety and fear. Electrical stimulation of the amygdala produces fear-like behavioral and physiological responses in animals, and increases the suggestive experience of fear in human subjects. Additionally, amygdala stimulation leads to corticosterone secretion and HPA-axis activation in animals, probably via outputs to the hypothalamus and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. It has been suggested... 

By contrast, the accessory olfactory system is thought to be involved in the detection of odors that influence a variety of reproductive and aggressive behaviors (Keverne 1999). Sensory neurons are located in the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and detect pheromones which gain access to the VNO by a pumping mechanism (Meredith and O Connell, 1979). VNO neurons send projections to the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). Mitral cells of the AOB project in turn to the medial nucleus of the amygdala olfactory information is then dispatched to several hypothalamic regions such as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the medial preoptic area and the ventromedial hypothalamus (Scalia and Winans 1975). 

CYP19 mRNA of adult Rhesus monkey is high in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis > medial preoptic/anterior hypothalamus > amygdala intermediate in the medial basal hypothalamus > lateral preoptic/anterior hypothalamus and low In the septum > lateral-dorsal-medial hypothalamus undetectable in cingulate and parietal cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum (Abdelgadir et al., 1997). 

Olive ME, Koenig HN, Nannini MA, Hodge GW. 2002. Elevated extraceUular erf levels in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis during ethanol withdrawal and reduction by subsequent ethanol intake. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 72 (1-2) 213-220. 

GC, in turn, exert a very sensitive negative feedback on the HPA system at the level of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and the anterior pituitary, and also at the level of the hippocampus, which projects to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the latter which sends off projections to the PVN. In concert with other components of the stress hormone system, the action of corticosterone displays two modes of operation (for review see De Kloet et al. 1998). In the first proactive mode, GC maintain basal activity of the HPA system and control the sensitivity or threshold of the system s response to stress. GC promote coordination of circadian events, such as the... 

NK3 is also abundantly expressed in many limbic structures (Rothman et al. 1984 Shughrue et al. 1996 Spitznagel et al. 2001), while NKB is only produced in discrete areas, including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the septal nuclei, and the central gray (Merchenthaler et al. 1992). It is conceivable that NKB is not the only ligand at NK3 receptors in the limbic system. 

Gray TS, Magnuson DJ (1992) Peptide immunoreactive neurons in the amygdala and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis project to the midbrain central gray in the rat. Peptides 13 451-460... 

BNST, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis CREB, cyclic AMP response element-binding protein CRH, corticotrophin-releasing hormone CS, conditioned stimuH GABA, y-aminobutyric acid GCC, voltage-gated calcium channels NE, norepinephrine NMDA, iST-methyl-D-aspartate PAG, periaqueductal gray. 

The nonapeptide vasopressin (AVP) is synthesized in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and the nucleus supraopticus. Besides its role in fluid regulation, AVP is also a key modulator of the HPA system, where it potentiates the effects of CRH on adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) release. Extrahypothalamic AVP-containing neurons are localized in the medial amygdala and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. AVP applied intracere-broventricularly or to the lateral septum has been shown to affect cognition, social behavior, and anxiety-like behavior in rodents (Insel et al. 2001). 

Outside of the hypothalamus, an abundant presence of CRF neurons is found in the neocortex, likely influencing cognitive appraisals and behavioral reactions to stress. High densities of CRF neurons are also found in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), which is the key structure in the mediation of emotion (LeDoux, 2000). These CRF neurons likely modulate affective stress responses. The CRF neurons originating from the CeA project directly and indirectly, via the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), to the hypothalamic PVN and influence endocrine responses to stress. Fur-... 

The junction between the MPOA and lateral preoptic areas is the ventral part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (ventral BST), and excitotoxic lesions disrupt retrieval behaviors and other aspects of maternal behavior in postpartum rats (Numan and Numan, 1996). Strong ventral BST projections to the lateral septum, substantia innominata, PVN, VTA, periaque-dutal gray matter, retrorubral field, and the region surrounding the locus coeruleus (Numan and Numan, 1996). 

Kendrick, K.M., Keverne, E.B., Hinton, M.R., and Goode J.A. (1992) Oxytocin, amino acid and monoamine release in the region of the medial preoptic area and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis of the sheep during parturition and suckling. Brain Res 569 199-209. 

Numan, M. and Numan, M.J. (1996) A lesion and neuroanatomical tract-tracing analysis of the role of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in retrieval behavior and other aspects of maternal responsiveness in rats. Dev Psychobiol 29 23-51. 

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