As an endogenous gaseous molecule, hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) has attracted extensive attention because of its multiple biological effects. However, the effect of H2 S on amygdala-mediated emotional memory has not been elucidated. Here, by employing Pavlovian fear conditioning, an animal model widely used to explore the neural substrates of emotion, we determined whether H2 S could regulate emotional memory. It was shown that the H2 S levels in the amygdala of rats were significantly elevated after cued fear conditioning. Both intraamygdala and systemic administrations of H2 S markedly enhanced amygdala-dependent cued fear memory in rats. Moreover, it was found that H2 S selectively increased the surface expression and currents of NMDA-type glutamate receptor subunit 2B (GluN2B)-containing NMDA receptors (NMDARs) in lateral amygdala of rats, whereas blockade of GluN2B-containing NMDARs in lateral amygdala eliminated the effects of H2 S to enhance amygdalar long-term potentiation and cued fear memory. These results demonstrate that H2 S can regulate amygdala-dependent emotional memory by promoting the function of GluN2B-containing NMDARs in amygdala, suggesting that H2 S-associated signaling may hold potential as a new target for the treatment of emotional disorders. In our study, the effect of hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) on amygdala-mediated emotional memory was investigated. It was found that H2 S could enhance amygdala-dependent emotional memory and long-term potentiation (LTP) in rats by selectively increasing the function of GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors in the amygdala. These results suggest that H2 S-associated signaling may be a new target for the treatment of emotional disorders.
Keywords: GluN2B-containing NMDA receptor; amygdala; cued fear memory; emotional memory; hydrogen sulfide; long-term potentiation.
© 2014 International Society for Neurochemistry.