Glycogen phosphorylase reactivity in the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

The present study examines the reactivity of the glial metabolic enzyme. gl ycogen phosphorylase. within the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria term inalis. Reactivity for phosphorylase tr, the active form of glycogen phosph orylase, was higher in all parts of the medial amygdaloid nucleus, in the m edial division of the central amygdaloid nucelus, in the anterior amygdaloi d area and in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis than in all parts of the lateral amygdaloid nucleus, the anterior cortical amygdaloid nucleus, the p osteromedial and posterolateral cortical amygdaloid nuclei, the intercalate d nucleus of the amygdala, main part and the intercalated nuclei. A greater degree of phosphorylase a reactivity was also observed in the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus, anterior and posterior parts, and in the basomedial amy gdaloid nucleus, anterior part, while other parts of these nuclei were less reactive. Reactivity attributed to total glycogen phosphorylase enzyme, ph osphorylase a + phosphorylase b activated by AMP, was higher and homogeneou s across the amygdala. Phosphorylase cr patterns are likely to reflect diff erences in the contribution of glycogenolysis to the metabolic support of c ells in the amygdala acid bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Possible rel ationships to local neuronal activity and to differences in glycogenolytic neuromodulatory input are discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.