Propranolol decreases retention of fear memory by modulating the stability of surface glutamate receptor GluA1 subunits in the lateral amygdala.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder with enhanced retention of fear memory and has profound impact on quality of life for millions of people worldwide. The β-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol has been used in preclinical and clinical studies for the treatment of PTSD, but the mechanisms underlying its potential efficacy on fear memory retention remain to be elucidated.

Experimental approach

We investigated the action of propranolol on the retention of conditioned fear memory, the surface expression of glutamate receptor GluA1 subunits of AMPA receptors and synaptic adaptation in the lateral amygdala (LA) of rats.

Key results

Propranolol attenuated reactivation-induced strengthening of fear retention while reducing enhance

SUBMITTER: Zhou J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4687796 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature