Kavli Affiliate: Keri Martinowich
| Authors: Michael S Totty, Rita Cervera-Juanes, Svitlana V Bach, Lamya Ben Ameur, Madeline R Valentine, Evan Simons, Mckenna D Romac, Hoa Trinh, Krystal Henderson, Ishbel Del Rosario, Madhavi Tippani, Ryan A Miller, Joel E Kleinman, Stephanie Cerceo Page, Arpiar Saunders, Thomas M Hyde, Keri Martinowich, Stephanie C Hicks and Vincent D Costa
| Summary:
The amygdaloid complex mediates learning, memory, and emotions. Understanding the cellular and anatomical features that are specialized in the amygdala of primates versus other vertebrates requires a systematic, anatomically-resolved molecular analysis of constituent cell populations. We analyzed five nuclear subdivisions of the primate amygdala with single-nucleus RNA sequencing in macaques, baboons, and humans to examine gene expression profiles for excitatory and inhibitory neurons and confirmed our results with single-molecule FISH analysis. We identified distinct subtypes of FOXP2+ interneurons in the intercalated cell masses and protein-kinase C-delta interneurons in the central nucleus. We also establish that glutamatergic, pyramidal-like neurons are transcriptionally specialized within the basal, lateral, or accessory basal nuclei. Understanding the molecular heterogeneity of anatomically-resolved amygdalar neuron types provides a cellular framework for improving existing models of how amygdalar neural circuits contribute to cognition and mental health in humans by using nonhuman primates as a translational bridge.