Serotonergic innervation of the human amygdala and evolutionary implications

Bibliographic Data

ID8312686
AuthorsCaroline H Lew (0000-0002-4734-3153, Department of Anthropology University of California San Diego California), Kari L Hanson (0000-0001-7508-7751, Department of Anthropology University of California San Diego California), Kimberly M Groeniger (0000-0002-7315-1403, Department of Anthropology University of California San Diego California), Demi Greiner (Department of Biological Sciences University of California San Diego California), Demi Maria Zabala Greiner (University of San Diego), Deion Cuevas (Department of Biological Sciences University of California San Diego California), Branka Hrvoj‐Mihic (Department of Anthropology University of California San Diego California), Branka Hrvoj-Mihić (University of San Diego), Cynthia M Schumann (0000-0002-3763-7596, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences University of California, Davis School of Medicine, The MIND Institute Sacramento California), Katerina Semendeferi (0000-0002-9867-9554, Department of Anthropology University of California San Diego California, corresponding author)
Year2019
Volume170
Issue3
Pages351-360
Publication date2019-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.23896
PMID31260092
OpenAlexW2953935148
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited54

OBJECTIVES: The serotonergic system is involved in the regulation of socio-emotional behavior and heavily innervates the amygdala, a key structure of social brain circuitry. We quantified serotonergic axon density of the four major nuclei of the amygdala in humans, and examined our results in light of previously published data sets in chimpanzees and bonobos. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formalin-fixed postmortem tissue sections of the amygdala from six humans were stained for serotonin transporter (SERT) utilizing immunohistochemistry. SERT-immunoreactive (ir) axon fiber density in the lateral, basal, accessory basal, and central nuclei of the amygdala was quantified using unbiased stereology. Nonparametric statistical analyses were employed to examine differences in SERT-ir axon density between amygdaloid nuclei within humans, as well as differences between humans and previously published data in chimpanzees and bonobos. RESULTS: Humans displayed a unique pattern of serotonergic innervation of the amygdala, and SERT-ir axon density was significantly greater in the central nucleus compared to the lateral nucleus. SERT-ir axon density was significantly greater in humans compared to chimpanzees in the basal, accessory basal, and central nuclei. SERT-ir axon density was greater in humans compared to bonobos in the accessory basal and central nuclei. CONCLUSIONS: The human pattern of SERT-ir axon distribution in the amygdala complements the redistribution of neurons in the amygdala in human evolution. The present findings suggest that differential serotonergic modulation of cognitive and autonomic pathways in the amygdala in humans, bonobos, and chimpanzees may contribute to species-level differences in social behavior

Amygdala · Axon · Basal ganglia · Biology · Central nervous system · Extended amygdala · Serotonergic · Serotonin · Serotonin transporter · Stria terminalis · Anatomy · Memory and Neural Mechanisms · Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies · Neuroscience · Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior · Psychology

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