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Functional projection distances of spinal interneurons mediating reciprocal inhibition during swimming in Xenopus tadpoles.

The basis for longitudinal coordination among spinal neurons during locomotion is still poorly understood. We have now examined the functional projection distances for the longitudinal axons of reciprocal inhibitory 'commissural interneurons' in the spinal cord of young Xenopus tadpoles. In quiescent animals, glycinergic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) were evoked in ventral spinal neurons by stimulating small rostral and caudal groups of commissural interneuron somata at different distances on the opposite side of the hindbrain and spinal cord. Unitary IPSPs, produced by single synaptic contacts, could be distinguished from background noise. Local cord stimulation at different distances revealed maximum functional projection distances up to approximately 0.5 mm for both descending and ascending axons, but with the probability of recording connections falling steeply over this distance. These maximum longitudinal projection distances are smaller than predicted by axonal anatomy (approximately 1.2 mm). We then measured functional projection distances during swimming by examining the synaptic output of a surgically isolated group of rostral commissural interneurons, mapping the occurrence of the mid-cycle, reciprocal IPSPs they produced in more caudal neurons. IPSPs occurred with high probability up to 0.9 mm away, nearly twice the projection distance found in quiescent tadpoles. These results show that synaptic contacts from commissural interneurons could influence longitudinal coupling during swimming at distances of up to 0.9 mm (approximately 4-5 myotome segments or approximately 25% of the spinal cord). They provide direct evidence for functional projection distances of a characterized class of interneurons belonging to a spinal locomotor pattern generator.

Animals↗

Genetically altered AMPA-type glutamate receptor kinetics in interneurons disrupt long-range synchrony of gamma oscillation.

Gamma oscillations synchronized between distant neuronal populations may be critical for binding together brain regions devoted to common processing tasks. Network modeling predicts that such synchrony depends in part on the fast time course of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in interneurons, and that even moderate slowing of this time course will disrupt synchrony. We generated mice with slowed interneuron EPSPs by gene targeting, in which the gene encoding the 67-kDa form of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67) was altered to drive expression of the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) glutamate receptor subunit GluR-B. GluR-B is a determinant of the relatively slow EPSPs in excitatory neurons and is normally expressed at low levels in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons, but at high levels in the GAD-GluR-B mice. In both wild-type and GAD-GluR-B mice, tetanic stimuli evoked gamma oscillations that were indistinguishable in local field potential recordings. Remarkably, however, oscillation synchrony between spatially separated sites was severely disrupted in the mutant, in association with changes in interneuron firing patterns. The congruence between mouse and model suggests that the rapid time course of AMPA receptor-mediated EPSPs in interneurons might serve to allow gamma oscillations to synchronize over distance.

Animals↗

Alcohol potently inhibits the kainate receptor-dependent excitatory drive of hippocampal interneurons.

Kainate receptors (KA-Rs) are members of the glutamate-gated family of ionotropic receptors, which also includes N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) receptors. KA-Rs are important modulators of interneuron excitability in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Activation of these receptors enhances interneuron firing, which robustly increases spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents in pyramidal neurons. We report here that ethanol (EtOH) potently inhibits this KA-R-mediated effect at concentrations as low as those that can be achieved in blood after the ingestion of just 1-2 drinks (5-10 mM). Pressure application of kainate, in the presence of AMPA and NMDA receptor antagonists, evoked depolarizing responses in interneurons that triggered repetitive action potential firing. EtOH potently inhibited these responses to a degree that was sufficient to abolish action potential firing. This effect appears to be specific for KA-Rs, as EtOH did not affect action potential firing triggered by AMPA receptor-mediated depolarizing responses. Importantly, EtOH inhibited interneuron action potential firing in response to KA-R activation by synaptically released glutamate, suggesting that our findings are physiologically relevant. KA-R-dependent modulation of glutamate release onto pyramidal neurons was not affected by EtOH. Thus, EtOH increases excitability of pyramidal neurons indirectly by inhibiting the KA-R-dependent drive of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons. We postulate that this effect may explain, in part, some of the paradoxical excitatory actions of this widely abused substance. The excitatory actions of EtOH may be perceived as positive by some individuals, which could contribute to the development of alcoholism.

Animals↗

A hebbian form of long-term potentiation dependent on mGluR1a in hippocampal inhibitory interneurons.

Hippocampal inhibitory interneurons play important roles in controlling the excitability and synchronization of pyramidal cells, but whether they express long-term synaptic plasticity that contributes to hippocampal network function remains uncertain. We found that pairing postsynaptic depolarization with theta-burst stimulation induced long-term potentiation (LTP) of putative single-fiber excitatory postsynaptic currents in interneurons. Either postsynaptic depolarization or theta-burst stimulation alone failed to induce LTP. LTP was expressed as a decrease in failure rates and an increase in excitatory postsynaptic current amplitude, independent of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors, and dependent on metabotropic glutamate receptors subtype 1a. LTP was induced specifically in interneurons in stratum oriens and not in interneurons of stratum radiatum/lacunosum-moleculare. Thus, excitatory synapses onto specific subtypes of inhibitory interneurons express a new form of hebbian LTP that will contribute to hippocampal network plasticity.

Animals↗

PTP and LTP at a hippocampal mossy fiber-interneuron synapse.

The mossy fiber-CA3 pyramidal neuron synapse is a main component of the hippocampal trisynaptic circuitry. Recent studies, however, suggested that inhibitory interneurons are the major targets of the mossy fiber system. To study the regulation of mossy fiber-interneuron excitation, we examined unitary and compound excitatory postsynaptic currents in dentate gyrus basket cells, evoked by paired recording between granule and basket cells or extracellular stimulation of mossy fiber collaterals. The application of an associative high-frequency stimulation paradigm induced posttetanic potentiation (PTP) followed by homosynaptic long-term potentiation (LTP). Analysis of numbers of failures, coefficient of variation, and paired-pulse modulation indicated that both PTP and LTP were expressed presynaptically. The Ca(2+) chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) did not affect PTP or LTP at a concentration of 10 mM but attenuated LTP at a concentration of 30 mM. Both forskolin, an adenylyl cyclase activator, and phorbolester diacetate, a protein kinase C stimulator, lead to a long-lasting increase in excitatory postsynaptic current amplitude. H-89, a protein kinase A inhibitor, and bisindolylmaleimide, a protein kinase C antagonist, reduced PTP, whereas only bisindolylmaleimide reduced LTP. These results may suggest a differential contribution of protein kinase A and C pathways to mossy fiber-interneuron plasticity. Interneuron PTP and LTP may provide mechanisms to maintain the balance between synaptic excitation of interneurons and that of principal neurons in the dentate gyrus-CA3 network.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

DNA-methyltransferase 1 mRNA is selectively overexpressed in telencephalic GABAergic interneurons of schizophrenia brains.

A down-regulation of reelin and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) 67 mRNAs was detected in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic cortical interneurons of schizophrenia (SZ) postmortem brains (10), suggesting that the availability of GABA and reelin may be decreased in SZ cortex. In situ hybridization of the mRNA encoding for DNA-methyltransferase 1, which catalyzes the methylation of promoter CpG islands, shows that the expression of this mRNA is increased in cortical GABAergic interneurons but not in pyramidal neurons of SZ brains. Counts of reelin mRNA-positive neurons in Brodmann's area 10 of either nonpsychiatric subjects or SZ patients show that the expression of reelin mRNA is decreased in layer-I, -II, and -IV GABAergic interneurons of SZ patients. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the increase of DNA-methyltransferase 1 expression in telencephalic GABAergic interneurons of SZ patients causes a promoter hypermethylation of reelin and GAD(67) and perhaps of other genes expressed in these interneurons. It is difficult to decide whether this dysfunction of GABAergic neurons detected in SZ is responsible for this disease or is a consequence of this disorder. Although at present we cannot differentiate between these two alternatives, it is important to consider that so far a molecular pathology of cortical GABAergic neurons appears to be the most consistent finding associated with SZ morbidity.

Adult↗

Dendritic current flow in relay cells and interneurons of the cat's lateral geniculate nucleus.

We used a passive, steady-state cable model to simulate current flow within the dendritic arbors of relay cells and interneurons in the cat's lateral geniculate nucleus. In confirmation of our previous work on relay cells, we found them to be electronically compact; thus a postsynaptic potential generated anywhere in a relay cell's dendritic arbor spreads with relatively little attenuation throughout the arbor and to its soma. An interneuron is very different. Its arbor is much more extensive electronically with the result that a postsynaptic potential significantly affects only local areas of the dendritic arbor, and only inputs to proximal dendrites or to the soma will much affect the soma. Since much of the interneuron's synaptic output derives from dendritic terminals that are both presynaptic and postsynaptic, its dendritic arbor may contain many local circuits that perform neuronal computations independently of each other, and this processing might be invisible to the soma. Furthermore, these interneurons possess conventional axonal outputs, and these contact postsynaptic profiles that are quite different from the postsynaptic targets of the dendritic terminals. Presumably, the axonal output reflects the integrated computations performed on proximal synaptic inputs, and it uses conventional action potentials to convey this output. We suggest that the interneuron does double duty: its dendritic arbor is used for many independent local circuits that perform one set of neuronal computations, and its axonal output represents conventional neuronal integration of proximal synaptic inputs.

Animals↗

Prenatal protein malnutrition results in increased frequency of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents in rat CA3 interneurons.

Electrophysiological studies have revealed an increase in the level of tonic inhibition in the hippocampus following prenatal protein malnutrition in rats. In the present study, whole cell patch clamp recordings of bipolar interneurons in the stratum radiatum of the CA3 subfield were used to determine whether this increase in inhibition can be accounted for by a change in the electrophysiological properties of GABAergic interneurons. Hippocampal slices were prepared from juvenile rats whose dams were fed either a normal (25% casein) or low (6% casein) protein diet throughout pregnancy. Intrinsic membrane and action potential properties were unaltered by the prenatal nutritional insult. In most respects the characteristics of GABAA receptor-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) and the modulation of such currents by the benzodiazepine agonist zolpidem were also similar in cells from the two nutritional groups. While the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory currents was unaltered, miniature (Tetrodotoxin resistant) inhibitory currents occurred at a significantly increased frequency in interneurons from prenatally protein malnourished rats. Thus, while the basic membrane properties of interneurons are preserved, there is a significant increase in the probability of GABA release from interneurons following prenatal protein malnutrition.

Action Potentials↗

Distinct origins of neocortical projection neurons and interneurons in vivo.

Recent studies in rodents have suggested that some cortical GABAergic interneurons arise within the neuroepithelium of the subcortical telencephalon then migrate dorsally into the cerebral cortex. These studies have relied heavily on short-term organotypic culture methods and on the analysis of mutant mice that die during the neonatal period. The purpose of this study is to ascertain directly whether cells labeled in the subcortical telencephalon in vivo differentiate into mature cortical interneurons and whether any cortical interneurons arise from the dorsal, cortical neuroepithelium. Mitotic cells within the neonatal cortex or subcortical telencephalon were labeled by focal injections of [(3)H]thymidine into the brains of neonatal ferrets. The fates of labeled cells were assessed in mature animals 6 weeks later. Our results suggest that many cortical interneurons, but not cortical projection neurons, derive from the subcortical telencephalon. Conversely, cortical projection neurons, but few if any interneurons, are generated within the proliferative zones of the neocortex.

Animals↗

Neural development of the neuregulin receptor ErbB4 in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus: preferential expression by interneurons tangentially migrating from the ganglionic eminences.

The receptor tyrosine kinases represent an important class of signal transduction molecules that have been shown to play critical roles in neural development. We report in the present study that the neuregulin receptor ErbB4 is preferentially expressed by interneurons that are migrating tangentially from the ventral to the dorsal rat telencephalon. ErbB4 immunoreactivity was detected in the medial ganglionic eminence as early as embryonic day (E) 13 at the inception of tangential migration. Prominent ErbB4-positive migratory streams consisting of cells double-labeled with ErbB4 and Dlx, a marker of tangentially migrating cells, were found to advance along the lower intermediate zone and the marginal zone from the ventrolateral to the dorsomedial cortex at E16-E18. After E20, the ErbB4-positive stream in the lower intermediate zone shifted towards the germinal zone and further extended via the cortex into the hippocampal primordium. ErbB4 was not expressed by Tbr1-positive glutamatergic projection neurons during development. ErbB4 was preferentially expressed by the majority of parvalbumin-positive interneurons and subsets of other GABAergic interneurons in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus in adulthood. The early onset and preferential expression of ErbB4 in tangentially migrating interneurons suggests that neuregulin/ErbB4 signaling may regulate the development and function of telencephalic interneurons.

Animals↗

Cortical interneuron fate determination: diverse sources for distinct subtypes?

GABAergic interneurons perform crucial roles in cortical development and function. These roles are executed by a diversity of interneuron subtypes, and abnormal function of particular subtypes has been implicated in a variety of neuropsychiatric diseases. However, little is known about the mechanisms that generate interneuron diversity. This paper discusses the potential origins of interneuron subtypes. Evidence is reviewed that suggests bipolar calretinin expressing interneurons may have distinct origins from those that express parvalbumin or somatostatin. In addition, evidence is presented that migratory cells from the subcortical subventricular zone (SVZ) do not proliferate after migration into the cortical SVZ.

Animals↗

Correlation between axonal morphologies and synaptic input kinetics of interneurons from mouse visual cortex.

Neocortical interneurons display great morphological and physiological variability and are ideally positioned to control circuit dynamics, although their exact role is still poorly understood. To better understand this diversity, we have performed a detailed anatomical and physiological characterization of 3 subtypes of visual cortex interneurons, isolated from transgenic mice which express green fluorescent protein in somatostatin, parvalbumin, and neuropeptide Y positive neurons. We find that these 3 groups of interneurons have systematic differences in dendritic and axonal morphologies and also characteristically differ in the frequencies, amplitude, and kinetics of the spontaneous excitatory and inhibitory synaptic currents they receive. Moreover, we detect a correlation between the kinetics of their synaptic inputs and quantitative aspects of their axonal arborizations. This suggests that different interneuron types could channel different temporal patterns of activity. Our results also confirm the importance of the axonal morphology to classify interneurons.

Animals↗

Extensive overlap of mu-opioid and nicotinic sensitivity in cortical interneurons.

We studied mu-opioid transmission in acute slices of rat neocortex using whole-cell recordings and single-cell reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The mu-opioid receptor (MOR) was found in gamma-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) interneurons that were either layer I cells frequently expressing neuropeptide Y or layers II-V cells expressing vasoactive intestinal peptide and enkephalin (Enk). We found that mu-opioid agonists inhibit these interneurons that are selectively excited by nicotinic agonists. The extensive overlap of mu-opioid and nicotinic responsiveness allowed mu-opioid agonists to inhibit nicotinic excitation of responsive interneurons and of their GABAergic output onto pyramidal cells. Finally, nicotinic stimulation resulted in a dynamic sequence where GABAergic transmission was first enhanced and then depressed below its baseline. This latter disinhibitory effect was prevented by a mu-opioid antagonist, indicating that excitation of nicotinic-responsive interneurons induced the release of endogenous Enk, which in turn led to MOR activation. Our results suggest that neocortical mu-opioid transmission acts as an inhibitory feedback onto nicotinic-responsive interneurons, which may change network excitability and inhibition patterns during cholinergic excitation.

Animals↗

Immunoreactivity for the GABAA receptor alpha1 subunit, somatostatin and Connexin36 distinguishes axoaxonic, basket, and bistratified interneurons of the rat hippocampus.

Parvalbumin (PV)-expressing interneurons synchronize cortical neurons through gamma-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) synapses. Three types of PV-containing interneurons populate stratum pyramidale of the hippocampal CA1 area: basket cells targeting somata and proximal dendrites, axoaxonic cells innervating axon initial segments, and bistratified cells targeting the dendrites of pyramidal cells. We tested whether this axonal specialization is accompanied by a differential expression of molecules involved in neuronal signaling. Immunofluorescence evaluation of interneurons labeled by neurobiotin in vivo shows that axoaxonic cells express significantly less GABA(A) receptor alpha1 subunit in the plasma membrane than basket and bistratified cells. Electron microscopic immunogold labeling reveals that this subunit contributes heavily to extrasynaptic receptors providing a substrate for tonic inhibition. Results from additional immunofluorescence experiments were consistent with the finding that only bistratified cells express the neuropeptide somatostatin. From the molecular profiles, we estimate that basket, bistratified, and axoaxonic cells represent about 60%, 25%, and 15%, respectively, of PV-containing cells in CA1 stratum pyramidale. In addition, all 3 interneuron classes form connexin36-immunopositive dendrodendritic gap junctions. The differential expression of signaling molecules and the relative frequency of cells reflect the specialized temporal contribution of the 3 types of PV-positive interneurons to GABA release in the network.

Animals↗

Halothane blocks synaptic excitation of inhibitory interneurons.

BACKGROUND: Activation of principal hippocampal neurons is controlled by feedforward and feedback inhibition mediated by gamma-aminobutyric acidergic interneurons. The effects of halothane on glutamate receptor-mediated synaptic excitation of inhibitory interneurons have not been reported yet. METHODS: The effects of halothane on glutamatergic excitatory postsynaptic currents and on spike threshold in visually identified interneurons were studied with tight-seal, whole-cell voltage- and current-clamp recordings in thin slices from adult mouse hippocampus. The excitatory postsynaptic currents were pharmacologically isolated into their N-methyl-D-aspartate and non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated components using selective antagonists. RESULTS: Halothane (0.37-2.78 mM) reversibly blocked non-N-methyl-D-aspartate and N-methyl-D-aspartate excitatory postsynaptic currents in hippocampal oriens-alveus interneurons. Half-maximal inhibition was observed at similar concentrations (0.59 mM and 0.50 mM, respectively). Halothane inhibited synaptically generated action potentials at concentrations that did not elevate the spike threshold. CONCLUSIONS: Halothane blocks glutamate receptor-mediated synaptic activation of inhibitory interneurons in the mouse hippocampus.

Action Potentials↗

Synaptic input of horizontal interneurons in stratum oriens of the hippocampal CA1 subfield: structural basis of feed-back activation.

The synaptic input of interneurons with horizontal dendrites in stratum oriens of the CA1 region was investigated, with particular attention to the portion of synapses originating from local pyramidal cells. Most of these GABAergic interneurons are known to contain somatostatin, and terminate on pyramidal dendrites in conjunction with entorhinal afferents in stratum lacunosum-moleculare. A smaller number of horizontal cells in this layer are immunoreactive for calbindin, and project to the medial septum. Selective ischaemic degeneration was used to label local axon collaterals of CA1 pyramidal cells, and immunostaining for mGluR1 or calbindin to visualise somatostatin- and calbindin-containing horizontal interneurons, respectively, at the stratum oriens-alveus border. The number of degenerating and intact synaptic boutons was counted on mGluR1- as well as on calbindin-positive dendrites and somata, whereas in another group of animals the proportion of GABA-immunoreactive synapses was estimated on calbindin-positive dendrites. On average, > 60% of the total presynaptic elements of both cell types were degenerating, i.e. originated from CA1 pyramidal cells, whereas GABA-positive boutons, which are known to survive ischaemia, are likely to account for a large proportion of non-degenerating boutons. Thus the vast majority of presumed excitatory synapses on somatostatin- and calbindin-containing horizontal neurons derives from local collaterals of CA1 pyramidal cells. The remaining GABA-negative synapses surviving ischaemia may also originate from CA1 pyramidal cells, e.g. from those in the ventral hippocampus, which are rarely damaged by global forebrain ischaemia. Alternative sources may include subcortical afferents known to innervate interneurons, or ipsi- and contralateral CA3 pyramidal cells, which, according to the present results, may account only for a negligible number of synapses on these interneurons types. We conclude that somatostatin-containing neurons at the oriens-alveus border of CA1, which are likely to mediate an inhibitory control of the efficacy and/or plasticity of entorhinal synapses on pyramidal cell dendrites, are driven primarily in a feed-back manner. The source of afferent excitation for calbindin-containing horizontal neurons in this region is very similar, suggesting that the GABAergic hippocamposeptal feed-back is also activated by local pyramidal cell collaterals.

Afferent Pathways↗

Target selectivity and neurochemical characteristics of VIP-immunoreactive interneurons in the rat dentate gyrus.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) has been shown to be present in a morphologically heterogeneous subpopulation of interneurons in the dentate gyrus, but the relationship between their input and output characteristics and neurochemical features has not been established. Three types of VIP-immunoreactive cells have been identified on the basis of these criteria: (i) cells forming a dense axonal plexus in the hilus have always coexisted with the calcium binding protein calretinin (CR), but never with the neuropeptide cholecystokinin (CCK). The postsynaptic targets of these VIP-positive cells were neurons visualized by immunostaining for substance P receptor, which is known to label different hilar non-principal cells. (ii) VIP-immunoreactive basket cells, innervating predominantly the somata and proximal dendrites of granule cells, were found in the striatum moleculare and stratum granulosum. They contained CCK, but not CR. (iii) Cells projecting to the stratum moleculare were found to have dendrites and axons restricted to this layer. In 75% of these cells VIP coexisted with CR but not with CCK, and they established multiple contacts largely with non-principal cells. GABA was shown to be present but the calcium-binding proteins calbindin D28K and parvalbumin were absent in all three types of VIP-containing interneuron. On the basis of these observations we conclude that three different types of VIP-positive neuron are present in this area, and are likely to subserve different inhibitory functions, cells with a hilar projection as well as those projecting to the stratum moleculare may synchronize the activity of hilar and other interneurons, or disinhibit granule cells by specific interneuron-to-interneuron connections. In contrast, basket cells control the activity of granule cells directly, via perisomatic inhibition.

Animals↗

Interneurone bursts are spontaneously associated with muscle contractions only during early phases of mouse spinal network development: a study in organotypic cultures.

For a short time during development immature circuits in the spinal cord and other parts of the central nervous system spontaneously generate synchronous patterns of rhythmic activity. In the case of the spinal cord, it is still unclear how strongly synchronized bursts generated by interneurones are associated with motoneurone firing and whether the progressive decline in spontaneous bursting during circuit maturation proceeds in parallel for motoneurone and interneurone networks. We used organotypic cocultures of spinal cord and skeletal muscle in order to investigate the ontogenic evolution of endogenous spinal network activity associated with the generation of coordinate muscle fibre contractions. A combination of multiunit electrophysiological recordings, videomicroscopy and optical flow computation allowed us to measure the correlation between interneurone firing and motoneurone outputs after 1, 2 and 3 weeks of in vitro development. We found that, in spinal organotypic slices, there is a developmental switch of spontaneous activity from stable bursting to random patterns after the first week in culture. Conversely, bursting recorded in the presence of strychnine and bicuculline became increasingly regular with time in vitro. The time course of spontaneous activity maturation in organotypic slices is similar to that previously reported for the spinal cord developing in utero. We also demonstrated that spontaneous bursts of interneurone action potentials strongly correlate with muscular contractions only during the first week in vitro and that this is due to the activation of motoneurones via AMPA-type glutamate receptors. These results indicate the occurrence in vitro of motor network development regulating bursting inputs from interneurones to motoneurones.

Action Potentials↗