AbstractMolecular identification and characterization of fear controlling circuitries is a promising path towards developing targeted treatments of fear-related disorders. Three-colorin situhybridization analysis was used to determine whether somatostatin (SOM,Sst), neurotensin (NTS,Nts), corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF,Crf), tachykinin 2 (TAC2,Tac2), protein kinase c-δ (PKC-δ,Prkcd), and dopamine receptor 2 (DRD2,Drd2) mRNA colocalize in male mouse amygdala neurons. Expression and colocalization was examined across capsular (CeC), lateral (CeL), and medial (CeM) compartments of the central amygdala. The greatest expression ofPrkcdandDrd2were found in CeC and CeL.Crfwas expressed primarily in CeL, whileSst-,Nts-, andTac2-expressing neurons were distributed between CeL and CeM. High levels of colocalization were identified betweenSst,Nts,Crf, andTac2within the CeL, while little colocalization was detected between any mRNAs within the CeM. These findings provide a more detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the development and maintenance of fear and anxiety behaviors.