Oxytocin receptors in the dorsolateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) bias fear learning toward temporally predictable cued fear

a Rats were habituated to the chambers and tested for an acoustic startle response (pre-test ASR). On the following day, BNSTdl microdialysates were collected prior, during, and following fear conditioning. Rats were subjected to either cue lights paired with foot shocks (CS-US), or unsignaled foot shocks (US alone). Control rats were placed inside the microdialysis cages without a light or shock exposure. b Following exposure to foot shocks signaled by a cue, unsignaled foot shocks, or control conditions (exposure to cue alone or no cue, no foot shock exposure) rats were perfused and hypothalamic sections were processed for double immunofluorescence labeling with antibodies against OT and marker of immediate early gene expression, cFos. c Before cued fear conditioning (CS-US), cannulated rats were infused bilaterally into the BNSTdl with OT, oxytocin receptor antagonist (OTA), or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) in context A. Twenty-four hours later, rats were tested for the recall of cued and non-cued fear in context B. The recall test consisted of 10 habituation ASR trials (excluded from analysis), followed by ASR measured during the presence (CS+) or absence of cue light, mixed in a pseudorandom order (40 trials). Twenty-four hours later, rats were tested for the contextual fear recall (ASR measured without CS+ presentations) in context