Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
Mol Cells. 2021 Feb 28;44(2):63-67. doi: 10.14348/molcells.2021.0006.
The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST)-a key part of the extended amygdala-has been implicated in the regulation of diverse behavioral states, ranging from anxiety and reward processing to feeding behavior. Among the host of distinct types of neurons within the BNST, recent investigations employing cell type- and projection-specific circuit dissection techniques (such as optogenetics, chemogenetics, deep-brain calcium imaging, and the genetic and viral methods for targeting specific types of cells) have highlighted the key roles of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons and their axonal projections. As anticipated from their primary roles in excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, these studies established that the glutamatergic and GABAergic subpopulations of the BNST oppositely regulate diverse behavioral states. At the same time, these studies have also revealed unexpected functional specificity and heterogeneity within each subpopulation. In this Minireview, we introduce the body of studies that investigated the function of glutamatergic and GABAergic BNST neurons and their circuits. We also discuss unresolved questions and future directions for a more complete understanding of the cellular diversity and functional heterogeneity within the BNST.
终纹床核（BNST）是延伸杏仁核的关键部分，涉及调节多种行为状态，从焦虑和奖励处理到进食行为。在 BNST 中存在众多不同类型的神经元，最近采用细胞类型和投射特异性回路解析技术（如光遗传学、化学遗传学、深部脑钙成像以及针对特定细胞类型的遗传和病毒方法）的研究强调了谷氨酸能和 GABA 能神经元及其轴突投射的关键作用。正如它们在兴奋性和抑制性神经传递中的主要作用所预期的那样，这些研究表明 BNST 的谷氨酸能和 GABA 能亚群相反地调节多种行为状态。同时，这些研究也揭示了每个亚群内出人意料的功能特异性和异质性。在这篇简评中，我们介绍了研究 BNST 谷氨酸能和 GABA 能神经元及其回路功能的研究。我们还讨论了未解决的问题和未来的方向，以更全面地了解 BNST 内的细胞多样性和功能异质性。
