Figure 2.

GR agonist RU 28362 (3 or 10 ng in 0.5 μl) infusions into the mPFC after inhibitory avoidance training increase pErk1/2 levels in the BLA. A, Mean ratio (+SEM) of pErk1/2 in the BLA ipsilateral to mPFC infusions versus pErk1/2 measured in the contralateral BLA is significantly greater in rats administered RU 28362 than the ratio of the comparison across two hemispheres of vehicle-treated rats. ^✷p < 0.05; ^✷✷p < 0.01 (n = 6–11 per group). No significant differences were observed across hemispheres in rats that were not trained on the inhibitory avoidance task (n = 5–6 per group). B, Density of pErk1/2 bands was normalized to density of total MAP kinase bands on the same blot. Left band is ipsilateral (i) to mPFC infusion, and right is contralateral (c). C, Immunohistochemical demonstration of location of pErk1/2 within the amygdala. Positive cells were present in the BLA as well as in the central part of the lateral division of the central nucleus (CEA).