3.4.2. mGluR5

The expression of mGluR5 was measured in the mPFC (Figure 5e), NAc (Figure 5f), CA1 (Figure 5g), and BLA (Figure 5h). A two-way ANOVA on mGluR5 protein levels revealed significant main effects of shock [NAc: F(1,31) = 13.209, *p* < 0.01] and virus [CA1: F(1,31) = 6.252, *p* < 0.05; mPFC: F(1,31) = 17.391, *p* < 0.001], as well as a shock × virus interaction [mPFC: F(1,31) = 11.468, *p* < 0.01; NAc: F(1,31) = 24.915, *p* < 0.001; CA1: F(1,31) = 4.682, *p* < 0.05]. Post hoc analysis revealed a decrease in mGluR5 levels in the mPFC and NAc in the Shock/GFP group compared with the NoShock/GFP group (mPFC: *p* < 0.01; NAc: *p* < 0.001) and the Shock/OE group (mPFC: *p* < 0.001; NAc: *p* < 0.01). Additionally, in the NAc the NoShock/GFP group demonstrated increased expression compared with the NoShock/OE group (*p* < 0.05), and in the CA1 the NoShock/GFP group demonstrated decreased expression compared with the NoShock/OE group (*p* < 0.01) and the Shock/GFP group (*p* < 0.05). No effects were observed in the BLA. Hence, exposure to shock and reminders downregulated mGluR5 levels in the mPFC and NAc, and overexpressed βcatenin in the NAc normalized these effects. OE decreased mGluR5 levels compared to the GFP group in the non-shocked groups. Nevertheless, OE restored the shock- and reminders-induced decrease in mGluR5 levels compared to GFP-shocked rats.
