VMHvl-Projecting Vglut1+ Neurons in the Posterior Amygdala Gate Territorial Aggression

Abstract

Summary: Despite being innate, displays of aggression are influenced by cortical activities. Here, using Vglut1 as a marker for inputs from cortical structures, we identify a small population of excitatory neurons located in the posterior amygdala (PA) that project to the ventrolateral division of ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMHvl), a region that critically regulates territorial aggression. Indeed, activities of PA Vglut1+ (PAVglut1) neurons, as analyzed by post hoc c-Fos expression, differentiate trials in which attacks occur, or not, during resident-intruder assays. More importantly, chemogenetic activation of VMHvl-projecting PAVglut1 neurons robustly promote aggression while inhibition of these neurons reduces attacks. Finally, a connectivity map places VMHvl-projecting PAVglut1 neurons at the interface between emotion regulation and aggression as they receive broad inputs from limbic structures and project collaterally to the VMHvl and other targets. Taken together, these results point to VMHvl-projecting PAVglut1 neurons as a potential site for cortical gating of territorial aggression. : While innate, displays of aggression are influenced by cortical activity. Using Vglut1 as a marker for cortical structures, Zha et al. identify a population of Vglut1+ neurons in the posterior amygdala (PA) that project to the ventrolateral division of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMHvl) and bidirectionally modulate territorial attacks. Keywords: aggression, Vglut1, posterior amygdala, VMHvl, emotion regulation, aggression circuit, cortical gating, innate behavior