1月7日担当の神経科学研究部訪問研究員の山本です。
下記の論文をご紹介いたします。
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11924993/

Neurons of the Central Nucleus of the Amygdala That Express Angiotensin Type 2 Receptors Couple Lowered Blood Pressure with Anxiolysis in Male Mice.
Elsaafien K, Kirchner MK, Scott KA, Spector EA, Mowry FE, Sumners C, Stern JE, de Kloet AD, Krause EG.
J Neurosci. 2025 Mar 19;45(12):e1482242025. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1482-24.2025.
PMID: 39909561

Abstract
Relief from psychological stress confers cardio-protection by altering brain activity and lowering blood pressure; however, the neuronal circuits orchestrating these effects are unknown. Here, we used male mice to discern neuronal circuits conferring stress relief and reduced blood pressure. We found that neurons residing in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) expressing angiotensin type 2 receptors (AT2R), deemed CeAAT2R, innervate brain nuclei regulating stress responding. In vivo optogenetic excitation of CeAAT2R lowered blood pressure, and this effect was abrogated by systemic hexamethonium or antagonism of GABA receptors within the CeA. Intriguingly, in vivo optogenetic excitation of CeAAT2R was also potently anxiolytic. Delivery of an AT2R agonist into the CeA recapitulated the hypotensive and anxiolytic effects, but ablating AT2R(s) from the CeA was anxiogenic. The results suggest that the excitation of CeAAT2R couples lowered blood pressure with anxiolysis. The implication is that therapeutics targeting CeAAT2R may provide stress relief and protection against cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: affective; autonomic; depression; hypertension; meditation; stress