Electrical and chemical synapses among parvalbumin fast-spiking GABAergic interneurons in adult mouse neocortex. 2002

Mario Galarreta, and Shaul Hestrin
Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Edwards Building R102, Stanford, CA 94305-5330, USA. galarreta@stanford.edu

Networks of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons connected via electrical and chemical synapses are thought to play an important role in detecting and promoting synchronous activity in the cerebral cortex. Although the properties of electrical and chemical synaptic interactions among inhibitory interneurons are critical for their function as a network, they have only been studied systematically in juvenile animals. Here, we have used transgenic mice expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein in cells containing parvalbumin (PV) to study the synaptic connectivity among fast-spiking (FS) cells in slices from adult animals (2-7 months old). We have recorded from pairs of PV-FS cells and found that the majority of them were electrically coupled (61%, 14 of 23 pairs). In addition, 78% of the pairs were connected via GABAergic chemical synapses, often reciprocally. The average coupling coefficient for step injections was 1.5% (n = 14), a smaller value than that reported in juvenile animals. GABA-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents and potentials decayed with exponential time constants of 2.6 and 5.9 ms, respectively, and exhibited paired-pulse depression (50-ms interval). The inhibitory synaptic responses in the adult were faster than those observed in young animals. Our results indicate that PV-FS cells are highly interconnected in the adult cerebral cortex by both electrical and chemical synapses, establishing networks that can have important implications for coordinating activity in cortical circuits.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007395 Interneurons Most generally any NEURONS which are not motor or sensory. Interneurons may also refer to neurons whose AXONS remain within a particular brain region in contrast to projection neurons, which have axons projecting to other brain regions. Intercalated Neurons,Intercalated Neuron,Interneuron,Neuron, Intercalated,Neurons, Intercalated
D008164 Luminescent Proteins Proteins which are involved in the phenomenon of light emission in living systems. Included are the "enzymatic" and "non-enzymatic" types of system with or without the presence of oxygen or co-factors. Bioluminescent Protein,Bioluminescent Proteins,Luminescent Protein,Photoprotein,Photoproteins,Protein, Bioluminescent,Protein, Luminescent,Proteins, Bioluminescent,Proteins, Luminescent
D008810 Mice, Inbred C57BL One of the first INBRED MOUSE STRAINS to be sequenced. This strain is commonly used as genetic background for transgenic mouse models. Refractory to many tumors, this strain is also preferred model for studying role of genetic variations in development of diseases. Mice, C57BL,Mouse, C57BL,Mouse, Inbred C57BL,C57BL Mice,C57BL Mice, Inbred,C57BL Mouse,C57BL Mouse, Inbred,Inbred C57BL Mice,Inbred C57BL Mouse
D008813 Mice, Inbred ICR An inbred strain of mouse that is used as a general purpose research strain, for therapeutic drug testing, and for the genetic analysis of CARCINOGEN-induced COLON CANCER. Mice, Inbred ICRC,Mice, ICR,Mouse, ICR,Mouse, Inbred ICR,Mouse, Inbred ICRC,ICR Mice,ICR Mice, Inbred,ICR Mouse,ICR Mouse, Inbred,ICRC Mice, Inbred,ICRC Mouse, Inbred,Inbred ICR Mice,Inbred ICR Mouse,Inbred ICRC Mice,Inbred ICRC Mouse
D008822 Mice, Transgenic Laboratory mice that have been produced from a genetically manipulated EGG or EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN. Transgenic Mice,Founder Mice, Transgenic,Mouse, Founder, Transgenic,Mouse, Transgenic,Mice, Transgenic Founder,Transgenic Founder Mice,Transgenic Mouse
D010320 Parvalbumins Low molecular weight, calcium binding muscle proteins. Their physiological function is possibly related to the contractile process. Parvalbumin,Parvalbumin B
D011401 Promoter Regions, Genetic DNA sequences which are recognized (directly or indirectly) and bound by a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase during the initiation of transcription. Highly conserved sequences within the promoter include the Pribnow box in bacteria and the TATA BOX in eukaryotes. rRNA Promoter,Early Promoters, Genetic,Late Promoters, Genetic,Middle Promoters, Genetic,Promoter Regions,Promoter, Genetic,Promotor Regions,Promotor, Genetic,Pseudopromoter, Genetic,Early Promoter, Genetic,Genetic Late Promoter,Genetic Middle Promoters,Genetic Promoter,Genetic Promoter Region,Genetic Promoter Regions,Genetic Promoters,Genetic Promotor,Genetic Promotors,Genetic Pseudopromoter,Genetic Pseudopromoters,Late Promoter, Genetic,Middle Promoter, Genetic,Promoter Region,Promoter Region, Genetic,Promoter, Genetic Early,Promoter, rRNA,Promoters, Genetic,Promoters, Genetic Middle,Promoters, rRNA,Promotor Region,Promotors, Genetic,Pseudopromoters, Genetic,Region, Genetic Promoter,Region, Promoter,Region, Promotor,Regions, Genetic Promoter,Regions, Promoter,Regions, Promotor,rRNA Promoters
D011994 Recombinant Proteins Proteins prepared by recombinant DNA technology. Biosynthetic Protein,Biosynthetic Proteins,DNA Recombinant Proteins,Recombinant Protein,Proteins, Biosynthetic,Proteins, Recombinant DNA,DNA Proteins, Recombinant,Protein, Biosynthetic,Protein, Recombinant,Proteins, DNA Recombinant,Proteins, Recombinant,Recombinant DNA Proteins,Recombinant Proteins, DNA
D004563 Electrochemistry The study of chemical changes resulting from electrical action and electrical activity resulting from chemical changes. Electrochemistries
D005680 gamma-Aminobutyric Acid The most common inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. 4-Aminobutyric Acid,GABA,4-Aminobutanoic Acid,Aminalon,Aminalone,Gammalon,Lithium GABA,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Calcium Salt (2:1),gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Hydrochloride,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Monolithium Salt,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Monosodium Salt,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Zinc Salt (2:1),4 Aminobutanoic Acid,4 Aminobutyric Acid,Acid, Hydrochloride gamma-Aminobutyric,GABA, Lithium,Hydrochloride gamma-Aminobutyric Acid,gamma Aminobutyric Acid,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Hydrochloride,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Monolithium Salt,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Monosodium Salt

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