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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Jun 1.
Published in final edited form as: Alcohol. 2012 Mar 25;46(4):303–308. doi: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2011.12.004

The Role of Biogenic Amine Signaling in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminals in Alcohol Abuse

Thomas Louis Kash 1
PMCID: PMC3358411  NIHMSID: NIHMS366312  PMID: 22449787

Abstract

There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that stress and anxiety can influence the development of alcohol use disorders. This influence is believed to be due in part to persistent adaptations in discrete brain regions that underlie stress responsivity. One structure that has been proposed to be a site of important neuroadaptations underlying this behavior is the extended amygdala. The extended amygdala is a series of extensively inter-connected limbic structures including the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). These structures are critical regulators of behavioral and physiological activation associated with anxiety. Additionally, numerous reports have suggested that these regions are involved in increased drinking behavior associated with chronic alcohol exposure and withdrawal. The focus of this review will be to discuss the role of the BNST in regulation of behavior, to provide some insight in to the circuitry of the BNST, and to discuss the actions of the biogenic amines, serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, in the BNST.

Microcircuitry of the BNST

The BNST acts as a critical node in the brain, receiving glutamatergic inputs from cortical, thalamic and amygdalar regions, GABAergic inputs from amygdalar region, and modulatory inputs from brainstem and hypothalamic regions, and then projecting out to many of these same regions (Figure 1). The circuitry in the BNST is complex, perhaps due to the critical role it plays in so many diverse behaviors and processes. Neurons in the BNST are thought to be primarily GABAergic(Sun and Cassell, 1993). These GABAergic BNST neurons express a number of neuropeptides, including CRF, enkephalin, NPY and dynorphin (Kozicz et al., 1997; Walter et al., 1991). Interestingly, CRF and NPY have been shown to have opposing effects on behavior, as NPY is an ‘anti-stress’ molecule that functionally opposes the actions of CRF (Heilig, 2004; Thiele et al., 2004a; Thiele et al., 2004b). The presence of these neuropeptides in the BNST suggests that there may be neuro-chemically distinct populations of neurons that are differentially engaged by stress or drugs (Day et al., 1999). In addition to this neuro-chemical heterogeneity, individual sub-nuclei have distinct afferent and efferent projections and connectivity within the extended amygdala. While there are many differences, recent reports have suggested that the micro-circuitry of the CeA can serve as a starting point for understanding the micro-circuitry of the BNST (Figure 2) (Viviani and Stoop, 2008). Specifically, the medial aspect of the CeA (CeA-M) is the output nucleus, with projections to the brainstem and hypothalamus, while the lateral aspect of the CeA (CeA-L) functions as an inhibitory projection to the CeA-M (Huber et al., 2005; Savander et al., 1996). This becomes more complicated in the BNST, as there are multiple output nuclei that could be considered analogous to the CeA-M; notably the fusiform nucleus (BNSTfu), a structure located on the ventral edge of the BNST below the anterior commissure and the anterolateral BNST (BNSTal), a structure that surrounds the anterior commissure in both the ventral and dorsal aspects. Anatomical studies show that the neurons in the juxtacapsular nucleus of the BNST (BNSTju) and the oval nucleus of the BNST (BNSTov), subnuclei within the dorsal-lateral BNST, are similar to the CeA-L, with a dense projection to the CeA-M as well as analagous output subnuclei in the BNST (for example the anterolateral BNST) that project to brainstem and hypothalamic nuclei that control behavioral state and neuroendocrine output (Dong et al., 2000). While these nuclei have some common outputs, however, there is a unique pattern of inputs. Notably, there is no projection from the CeA to the BNSTju, suggesting that GABAergic control of these neurons is regulated primarily by neurons within the BNST(Dong et al., 2000). This stands in contrast with the BNSTov and BNSTal, which receives a dense projection from the CeA-L (Dong et al., 2001b). Further, the BNSTju region receives a glutamatergic projection from the basolateral-nucleus of the amygdala, while the BNSTov receives glutamatergic inputs from the insular cortex and the paraventricular thalamus (Dong et al., 2000; Dong et al., 2001b). These differential glutamatergic inputs suggest that there may be critical target dependent plasticity of excitatory transmission that occurs following behavioral manipulations such as alcohol exposure. One of the major challenges in understanding the impact of alcohol and other drugs of abuse on function in the BNST will be to parse out the effects on these different populations of cells and their inputs and outputs.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Network diagram outlining the connectivity of the BNST. The BNST receives glutamatergic projections from the basolateral amygdala (BLA), the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the hippocampus (Hipp) and a GABAergic/CRF projection from the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). The BNST then projects back to the CeA, as well as brain regions that mediate for the specific systemic and behavioral indicators of fear and anxiety. Shown on the diagram are the lateral hypothalamus (LH), periacqueductal grey (PAG), locus coeruleus (LC), nucleus tractus solitaries (NTS), ventral tegmental area (VTA), the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and the dorsal raphe (DR). Several of these brain regions project back to the BNST, suggesting the possibility of feed-back and feed-forward circuits. It should be noted that the CeA also projects to the same targets as the BNST, however it does not project to the PVN.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

Diagram outlining the microcircuitry of the anterior BNST, including interactions with the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). Importantly, this model highlights the complexity of these interactions. Further, it demonstrates that there are multiple output regions of the BNST, both the fusiform nucleus (BNSTfu) and the anterolater nucleus (BNSTal), that exhibit distinct ouput patterns with some overlap. Further, there are several structures that act as inhibitory nodes on these output nuclei; the oval nucleus (BNSTov) and the juxtacapsular nucleus (BNSTju), the lateral nucleus of the CeA (CeA-L) and the BNSTfu.

The BNST as a critical regulator of the stress response/anxiety

Manipulations of stress and anxiety can shape ethanol related behaviors. The BNST acts as a critical regulator of both stress response and anxiety via a series of projections to the brain stem and hypothalamus (Figure 1). Given that several of these target regions also project to the BNST, it has been proposed that these circuits can form feed forward loops that when engaged, can lead to aberrant behavior. The ability of the BNST to alter the stress response is well characterized. Functionally, lesions of the anterolateral BNST cause significant reductions of corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) mRNA levels in the PVN (Herman et al., 1994), which results in net reduction in activity of the HPA axis. This effect was specific to the anterolateral portion of the BNST, as lesions of more posterior portions of the BNST increase levels of CRF mRNA in the PVN (Herman et al., 1994). Recent studies from the Sawchenko group have confirmed this important interaction, demonstrating that the anterolateral BNST can integrate information from the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampal formation and inhibit HPA axis output (Radley and Sawchenko, 2011). The BNST can also play a critical role in regulating anxiety. Microinjection of either β- or α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists into the anterolateral BNST attenuates stress-induced reactivity on the elevated plus maze and α1-adrenergic receptor agonist alone blocked stress-induced increases in ACTH (Cecchi et al., 2002). Infusion of AMPA receptor antagonists directly in to the BNST can blunt light-enhancement of fear-potentiated startle reflex (Walker and Davis, 1997). Thus the BNST is an integrative point critical for the regulation of anxiety and the HPA axis.

The BNST plays a key role in modulating rewarding properties of drugs of abuse

The BNST is heavily inter-connected with ‘reward’ regions in particular the ventral tegmental area (VTA) (Figure 1) (Dong and Swanson, 2004). In keeping with this, it has been shown that acute exposure to multiple drugs of abuse, including ethanol, leads to increased dopamine levels in the BNST (Carboni et al., 2000). Moreover, several studies have demonstrated that disruption of GABAergic (Hyytia and Koob, 1995) or dopaminergic signaling (Eiler et al., 2003) in the BNST can alter ethanol seeking behavior. Interestingly, results from the Williams’ lab showed alterations in GABAergic transmission in the BNST during acute opiate withdrawal (Dumont and Williams, 2004) and an enhancement of the AMPA/NMDA ratio following cocaine self-administration (Dumont et al., 2005), suggestingthat the BNST undergoes adaptations following prolonged drug treatment. Further, work from the Winder group has demonstrated that chronic ethanol and cocaine can alter synaptic function and plasticity in the BNST (Grueter et al., 2006; Healey et al., 2008; Kash et al., 2009; McElligott et al., 2010; McElligott and Winder, 2009). These studies suggest that, in addition to a critical role in anxiety, the BNST is involved in modulating the rewarding properties of drugs of abuse, including ethanol, and is altered following chronic exposure to drugs of abuse. The precise role of these adaptations in the development of addiction-like behavior has not been explored; however, it is tempting to speculate that these drug induced alterations in function are related to the increased involvement of negative reinforcement following chronic drug exposure.

The BNST receives dopamine from the VTA and the A10dc (vlPAG/DR)

The traditional view of dopamine signaling in the brain has been that dopamine released from cells in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra (SN) constitutes the virtual entirety of CNS dopaminergic signaling. In addition to this classical dopaminergic afferent, however, the BNST also receives nearly 50% of its dopaminergic input from the A10dc located in the vlPAG region (Hasue and Shammah-Lagnado, 2002; Meloni et al., 2006). This population of neurons has long been thought to have unusual features relative to SN and VTA neurons, including reduced neurotoxin sensitivity and differential tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) regulation (Xu et al., 1998). Importantly, this population of neurons is not unique to rodents, but is conserved in humans (Saper and Petito, 1982). Little is known of these cells, however recent studies suggest specific roles for A10dc dopaminergic neurons in heroin reward (Flores et al., 2006), opiate regulation of nociception (Flores et al., 2004), and wakefulness (Lu et al., 2006). The ability of drugs of abuse, and more specifically ethanol, and stress to modulate dopaminergic cells in the VTA has been well characterized (Brodie and Appel, 1998; Okamoto et al., 2006). In contrast, the ability of acute ethanol or stress to modulate the dopaminergic cells in the vlPAG, as well as their response to chronic alcohol exposure is currently unknown. While they did not specifically examine dopamine neurons, a recent study demonstrated that swim stress increased expression of the immediate early gene, c-fos, in the vlPAG, raising the possibility that vlPAG DA neurons may be stress responsive. Further, it is unknown if these cells undergo differential neuroadaptations following chronic ethanol exposure. Given that the A10dc dopaminergic neurons project to both the CeA and the BNST, altered transmission in these cells could be an important upstream regulator of CRF function throughout the extended amygdala. An outstanding question remains: what is the role of the A10Dc dopamine cell population of the vlPAG in alcohol abuse?

BNST Regulation of DA neuron function

One of the hallmarks of the interactions between the BNST and brainstem structures is a bidirectional interaction, as discussed above in the overview of the anatomy and shown in Figure 1. As such, the BNST receives DA inputs, and can also regulate DA neuron function. Early studies from George and Aston-Jones demonstrated that this was a complicated projection, with both inhibitory and excitatory components (Georges and Aston-Jones, 2001). In expanding this work, they have found that the BNST plays a critical role in prefrontal cortex excitation of VTA DA neurons (Massi et al., 2008). Subsequent studies have suggested that CRF positive neurons project to the VTA; but, it is unclear if these are GABAergic or glutamatergic (Rodaros et al., 2007). It is possible that future studies utilizing optogenetic approaches in genetically modified mice will clarify this circuitry. Unlike the BNST-VTA interaction, there is no published work on the interactions between the BNST and dopamine neurons in the PAG. Several anatomical studies, however, have demonstrated a robust projection from the BNST to the PAG (Dong et al., 2001a; Dong et al., 2001b; Dong and Swanson, 2003, 2004). Indeed, Meloni et al have speculated that the interactions between PAG and BNST are similar to the BNST –VTA interaction, with CRF neurons innervating PAG DA neurons (Meloni et al., 2006).

Dopamine signaling in the BNST

Drugs of abuse, including ethanol, potently elevate extracellular dopamine in the BNST (Carboni et al., 2000) and that antagonizing D1 receptors within the BNST can reduce alcohol seeking behavior (Eiler et al., 2003). Moreover, in vivo administration of multiple drugs of abuse, including alcohol, engage the MAP kinase (ERK1/2) signaling cascade in BNST neurons in a D1-dopamine receptor antagonist sensitive manner (Valjent et al., 2004). Beyond reward, dopamine signaling in the BNST has been suggested to be involved in regulation of anxiety-like behavior in a potential CRF dependent fashion (Meloni et al., 2006). Interestingly, lesions of the dopaminergic fibers of the medial forebrain bundle caused a reduction in CRF mRNA levels in both the CeA and the BNST (Day et al., 2002). Given that dopaminergic fibers target CRF positive neurons in both the dBNST (Phelix et al., 1994) and the CeA (Hornby and Piekut, 1989), this raises the interesting possibility that dopamine serves to regulate CRF expression in both the dBNST and the CeA. In keeping with the DA CRF interaction, work from the Winder lab found that dopamine lead to a CRF-dependent increase in glutamate release in the BNST, providing a mechanism by which dopamine can influence CRF signaling on a circuit scale (Kash et al., 2008). It bears noting that a similar effect was found after α1 and β1adrenergic receptor agonist application (McElligott et al., 2010; Nobis et al., 2011). These data strongly support the idea that there are feed-forward circuits between the BNST and the brainstem cathecholamine centers. In addition, the Dumont group has demonstrated that specifically in the BNSTov dopamine can impair evoked inhibitory transmission via D2 receptor activation, and this modulation was altered following cocaine self-administration (Krawczyk et al., 2011b). Finally, work from the Sanna group has shown that there is a novel form of plasticity in the BNSTju that is D1R dependent (Francesconi et al., 2009a; Francesconi et al., 2009b). Taken together, these results indicate that dopamine can robustly modulate the functional properties of the BNST.

Serotonin involvement in alcoholism

Studies in alcoholics have demonstrated alterations in markers of 5HT function. Specifically, alcohol-dependent individuals exhibited increases in the 5HT biosynthetic enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) in dorsal raphe, the brain stem nucleus that acts as the principle source of serotonin to the brain, including the BNST (Bonkale et al., 2006). Additionally, recent reports have demonstrated alterations in serotonin transporter (SERT) density in the amygdala of Type 2, or aggressive, alcoholics (Storvik et al., 2008). Moreover, there is a direct correlation in inbred mice between 5HT clearance and alcohol consumption (Carneiro et al., 2009). Similar results have been obtained in human studies, with individuals with a low-functioning S allele of the serotonin transporter demonstrating reduced alcohol consumption (Kranzler et al., 2002). It has been proposed that the increased 5HT tone in individuals with this polymorphism is protective by reducing impulsive behavior, which is strongly correlated with drinking behavior. These studies indicate that the 5HT system is altered in human alcoholics. In addition, 5HT signaling has been implicated in chronic ethanol induced anxiety in animal models (Knapp et al., 2004). Further, ethanol has been shown to modulate expression of 5HT receptors (Pandey et al., 1992). Consistent with these findings, recent reports have demonstrated that 5HT2C receptors in the amygdala mediate intermittent ethanol exposure-induced increases in anxiety (Overstreet et al., 2006). The role of the 5HT2C receptor in anxiety is supported by studies using the 5HT2C knockout mouse (Heisler et al., 2007). Taken together, these studies indicate that the 5HT system is altered following chronic alcohol exposure, and suggest that it represents a potential avenue for therapeutic intervention.

Serotonin signaling in the BNST

Similar to the amygdala, the BNST receives a 5HT input from the DR (Phelix et al., 1992). Systemic administration of the 5HT2 receptor agonist, mCPP, can activate the BNST, as denoted by an increase in c-fos (Singewald et al., 2003). Recent studies have demonstrated that activation of 5HT receptors in the BNST can modulate anxiety like behavior. Specifically, a study from the Rainnie group demonstrated that 5HT1A receptor activation in the BNSTal leads to a reduction in anxiety-like behavior (Levita et al., 2004). Conversely, studies from the Hammack lab have shown that mCPP, a 5HT2 agonist, administered in to the BNST leads to increased anxiety-like behavior (Fox et al., 2008), suggesting that 5HT2 receptor activation in the BNST has similar behavioral effects as 5HT2 receptor activation in the amygdala (Cornelio and Nunes-de-Souza, 2007). Using a genetic approach, it was found that in 5HT2C knockout mice there was a deficit in stress induced activation of CRF neurons in the BNST(Heisler et al., 2007). This is particularly interesting given the proposed role of CRF signaling in the BNST(Walker and Davis, 2008) in both anxiety and the negative affective state associated with chronic alcohol exposure. These studies suggest that 5HT1 and 5HT2 receptors in the BNST have opposing actions and differentially regulate anxiety-like behavior. Similar to these differential behavioral effects, 5HT has a variety of effects on the excitable properties of neurons in the BNST. Specifically, a study from the Rainnie laboratory demonstrated that 5HT can either depolarize, hyperpolarize, or both depolarize and hyperpolarize neurons located in the BNSTal (Levita et al., 2004). A subsequent study identified 5HT1A-induced recruitment of a G-protein coupled potassium channel as responsible for the 5HT-induced hyperpolarization (Levita et al., 2004). A recent study demonstrated that this depolarization was due in part to 5HT2C-Rs (Guo et al., 2009; Hammack et al., 2009). It bears noting, however, that there are also 5HT2A receptors in the BNST which may also play a role in this depolarization. To date, there have been no studies examining the ability of 5HT to modulate inhibitory synaptic function. Immunohistochemical studies in the 5HT2C-R knockout, however, suggest that 5HT2C-Rs can regulate the activity of CRF neurons in the BNST (Heisler et al., 2007). These studies suggest that 5HT modulates function in the BNST through activation of multiple targets and that alterations of these targets can alter behavior. Further, they suggest that the anxiogenic effects of 5HT2 agonists are mediated, at least in part, by 5HT2C-Rs regulating function in the BNST. This is particularly interesting with regards to alcohol abuse, as 5HT2C antagonist can reduce alcohol withdrawal induced anxiety, suggesting that 5HT2C antagonism may be a viable treatment for anxiety disorders associated with alcohol abuse.

Norepinephrine Signaling in the BNST: Potential role in Alcohol Abuse

In addition to dopamine and serotonin, the BNST receives a large noradrenergic input (Egli and Winder, 2003). While early anatomical analysis of these noradrenergic projections suggested that this was predominantly from the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) (Forray et al., 2000), recent functional evidence suggested that the locus coeruleus and the NTS can release norepinephrine (NE) in the BNST (Park et al., 2009). Norepinephrine signaling in the BNST has been linked to numerous behavioral outcomes, including activation of the HPA axis, anxiety, stress-induced relapse to drug seeking, and pain (Reviewed in detail by McElligott and Winder (McElligott and Winder, 2009)). Functionally, NE has multiple actions in the BNST. NE can inhibit glutamate release in both ventral and dorsal BNST via activation of α2 adrenergic receptors (Egli et al., 2005; Krawczyk et al., 2011a). In contrast, NE can enhance glutamatergic transmission in the BNST via both β1 and β2 adrenergic receptors (Egli et al., 2005; Nobis et al., 2011). Activation of α1 adrenergic receptors leads to more complex effects on synaptic function and plasticity. Work from the Winder lab has demonstrated that activation of α1 adrenergic receptors leads to a post-synaptically expressed long-term depression (LTD) (McElligott et al., 2010; McElligott and Winder, 2008), however, it was shown that α1 adrenergic receptor activation also leads to a CRF-R1 dependent increase in glutamatergic transmission (McElligott et al., 2010). Finally, and perhaps related to the CRF-R1 dependent increase in glutamate, α1 adrenergic activation can depolarize a subpopulation of neurons in the BNSTal and increase GABA release (Dumont and Williams, 2004). The impact of alcohol exposure on NE modulation of function in the BNST has only been examined for the α1 adrenergic mediated LTD. It was found that four days of alcohol vapor exposure lead to a partial reduction in the magnitude of this LTD. The authors suggested that this was perhaps due to induction of this LTD in vivo (McElligott et al., 2010). This is particularly interesting, as α1 adrenergic receptor antagonists have shown promise in both preclinical models of alcohol dependence (Rasmussen et al., 2009; Walker and Koob, 2008; Walker et al., 2008) and clinical populations (Simpson et al., 2009). The anatomic localization of this α1 antagonist mediated effect has not been determined, but given the critical role of the BNST in these actions and the robust noradrenergic input, it is possible that the BNST plays a role.

Summary

The BNST is a structure that appears to play a critical role in several aspects of alcohol abuse and addiction. The complicated circuitry of this structure provides a fertile ground for discovery, but this same complexity can make it difficult to understand how modulatory systems such as serotonin and dopamine are working on a network level. For example, the GABAergic projection from the CeA has been thought to play a critical role in alcohol abuse and anxiety. To date, technical limitations have made it difficult to isolate long-range anatomical projections between brain regions of interest such as this pathway. The development of optogenetic approaches combined with novel transgenic animals allows unparalleled means to isolate and measure these pathways in a neurochemically defined fashion. These same approaches can be applied to evaluate the role that specific biogenic amine inputs in to the BNST play in different aspects of alcohol abuse, such as drinking and withdrawal.

Footnotes

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