LA JOLLA, Calif. - In a recent study conducted by researchers from the Salk Institute in California, a breakthrough was made in understanding the brain circuitry behind panic attacks. The discovery could pave the way for the development of new medications to prevent and relieve panic disorder, a debilitating condition characterized by sudden, intense fear and physical symptoms.

The research team focused on mapping the brain regions and connections involved in panic attacks to gain insights for future treatment options. Their investigation led them to identify a specific brain circuit composed of specialized neurons in mice that could potentially be manipulated to effectively manage panic disorder.

The scientists pinpointed the lateral parabrachial nucleus (PBL), located within the brain stem, as the brain region responsible for initiating panic and triggering emotional and physical responses. They also found that inhibiting certain neural signals in this region could reduce panic symptoms, offering a glimmer of hope for the development of drugs targeting panic disorder.

The study's co-first author, Sukjae Kang, explained that by mimicking panic attacks in mice, researchers were able to observe the activity of neurons expressing the PACAP neuropeptide (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide) and establish a unique connection between the PACAP brain circuit and panic disorder.

During panic attacks in mice, neurons expressing PACAP became activated, releasing PACAP messenger to another brain region called the dorsal raphe, containing neurons with PACAP receptors. Activation of these receptor neurons resulted in panic-associated behavioral and physical symptoms, illustrating the link between panic disorder and the PACAP brain circuit.

Interestingly, inhibiting PACAP signaling disrupted the flow of PACAP neuropeptides, leading to a reduction in panic symptoms. This finding holds promise for the development of targeted treatments for panic disorder in the future.

Dr. Sung Han, the study's senior author and an associate professor at the Salk Institute, emphasized the importance of understanding the specific brain circuitry of panic disorder. While panic disorders are classified as anxiety disorders, they differ from general anxiety in several ways, including the presence of physical symptoms and the uncontrollable nature of panic attacks.

The researchers aim to investigate PACAP-expressing neurons and PACAP neuropeptides as potential targets for panic disorder medications. Their future plans include tracing the pathways of PACAP receptor-producing neurons in the dorsal raphe to determine where these signals lead and exploring the interaction between other brain areas associated with anxiety and the PACAP-related panic system.

The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, highlights a significant advancement in the understanding of panic disorder and provides hope for the development of innovative treatments to alleviate its debilitating symptoms.