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  • Substance P in the medial a...
    He, Zi-Xuan; Yue, Mei-Hui; Liu, Kai-Jie; Wang, Yao; Qiao, Jiu-Ye; Lv, Xin-Yue; Xi, Ke; Zhang, Ya-Xin; Fan, Jia-Ni; Yu, Hua-Li; He, Xiao-Xiao; Zhu, Xiao-Juan

    Neuropsychopharmacology (New York, N.Y.), 04/2024
    Journal Article

    Behavioral and clinical studies have revealed a critical role of substance P (SP) in aggression; however, the neural circuit mechanisms underlying SP and aggression remain elusive. Here, we show that tachykinin-expressing neurons in the medial amygdala (MeA neurons) are activated during aggressive behaviors in male mice. We identified MeA neurons as a key mediator of aggression and found that MeA →ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMHvl) projections are critical to the regulation of aggression. Moreover, SP/neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) signaling in the VMHvl modulates aggressive behaviors in male mice. SP/NK-1R signaling regulates aggression by influencing glutamate transmission in neurons in the VMHvl. In summary, these findings place SP as a key node in aggression circuits.