GABAergic neurons in central amygdala contribute to orchestrating anxiety-like behaviors and breathing patterns

Xiaoyi Wang, Shangyu Bi, Ziteng Yue, Xinxin Chen, Yuhang Liu, Tianjiao Deng, Liuqi Shao, Xinyi Jing, Cuidie Wang, Yakun Wang, Wei He, Hongxiao Yu, Luo Shi, Fang Yuan () and Sheng Wang ()
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Xiaoyi Wang: Hebei Medical University
Shangyu Bi: Hebei Medical University
Ziteng Yue: Hebei Medical University
Xinxin Chen: Hebei Medical University
Yuhang Liu: Hebei Medical University
Tianjiao Deng: Hebei Medical University
Liuqi Shao: Hebei Medical University
Xinyi Jing: Hebei Medical University
Cuidie Wang: Hebei Medical University
Yakun Wang: Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University
Wei He: Hebei Medical University
Hongxiao Yu: Hebei Medical University
Luo Shi: Hebei Medical University
Fang Yuan: Hebei Medical University
Sheng Wang: Hebei Medical University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-23

Abstract: Abstract Anxiety is characterized by dysregulated respiratory reactivity to emotional stimuli. The central amygdala (CeA) is a pivotal structure involved in processing emotional alterations, but its involvement in orchestrating anxiety-like behaviors and specific breathing patterns remains largely unexplored. Our findings demonstrate that the acute restraint stress (ARS) induces anxiety-like behaviors in mice, marked by prolonged grooming time and faster respiratory frequency (RF). Conversely, silencing GABAergic CeA neurons reduces post-ARS anxiety-like behaviors, as well as the associated increases in grooming time and RF. In actively behaving mice, stimulation of GABAergic CeA neurons elicits anxiety-like behaviors, concurrently prolongs grooming time, accelerates RF through a CeA-thalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVT) circuit. In either behaviorally quiescent or anesthetized mice, stimulation of these neurons significantly increases RF but does not induce anxiety-like behaviors through the CeA-lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) circuit. Collectively, GABAergic CeA neurons are instrumental in orchestrating anxiety-like behaviors and breathing patterns primarily through the CeA-PVT and CeA-LPBN circuits, respectively.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58791-6

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