Hippocampal Interneurons (hippocampal + interneuron)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Differential responses to NMDA receptor activation in rat hippocampal interneurons and pyramidal cells may underlie enhanced pyramidal cell vulnerability

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 12 2005
E. Avignone
Abstract Hippocampal interneurons are generally more resistant than pyramidal cells to excitotoxic insults. Because NMDA receptors play a crucial role in neurodegeneration, we have compared the response to exogenous NMDA in CA1 pyramidal cells and interneurons of the stratum oriens using combined whole-cell patch-clamp recording and ratiometric Ca2+ imaging. In voltage-clamp, current-clamp or in nominally Mg2+ -free medium, NMDA (10 µm; 3,5 min exposure in the presence of tetrodotoxin) induced a markedly larger inward current and Ca2+ rise in pyramidal cells than in interneurons. Pyramidal cells also showed a more pronounced voltage dependence in their response to NMDA. We hypothesized that this enhanced response to NMDA receptor activation in pyramidal cells could underlie their increased vulnerability to excitotoxicity. Using loss of dye as an indicator of degenerative membrane disruption, interneurons tolerated continuous exposure to a high concentration of NMDA (30 µm) for longer periods than pyramidal cells. This acute neurodegeneration in pyramidal cells was independent of intracellular Ca2+, because high intracellular BAPTA (20 mm) did not prolong survival time. Thus, a plausible explanation for the enhanced sensitivity of pyramidal neurons to excitotoxic insults associated with cerebral ischemia is their greater response to NMDA receptor activation, which may reflect differences in NMDA receptor expression and/or subunit composition. [source]


Enhanced synaptic excitation,inhibition ratio in hippocampal interneurons of rats with temporal lobe epilepsy

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 2 2007
F. Stief
Abstract A common feature of all epileptic syndromes is the repetitive occurrence of pathological patterns of synchronous neuronal activity, usually combined with increased neuronal discharge rates. Inhibitory interneurons of the hippocampal formation control both neuronal synchronization as well as the global level of activity and are therefore of crucial importance for epilepsy. Recent evidence suggests that changes in synaptic inhibition during temporal lobe epilepsy are rather specific, resulting from selective death or alteration of interneurons in specific hippocampal layers. Hence, epilepsy-induced changes have to be analysed separately for different types of interneurons. Here, we focused on GABAergic neurons located at the border between stratum radiatum and stratum lacunosum-moleculare of hippocampal area CA1 (SRL interneurons), which are included in feedforward inhibitory circuits. In chronically epileptic rats at 6,8 months after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus, frequencies of spontaneous and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents were reduced, yielding an almost three-fold increase in excitation,inhibition ratio. Consistently, action potential frequency of SRL interneurons was about two-fold enhanced. Morphological alterations of the interneurons indicate that these functional changes were accompanied by remodelling of the local network, probably resulting in a loss of functional inhibitory synapses without conceivable cell death. Our data indicate a strong increase in activity of interneurons in dendritic layers of the chronically epileptic CA1 region. This alteration may enhance feedforward inhibition and rhythmogenesis and , together with specific changes in other interneurons , contribute to seizure susceptibility and pathological synchronization. [source]


Differential responses to NMDA receptor activation in rat hippocampal interneurons and pyramidal cells may underlie enhanced pyramidal cell vulnerability

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 12 2005
E. Avignone
Abstract Hippocampal interneurons are generally more resistant than pyramidal cells to excitotoxic insults. Because NMDA receptors play a crucial role in neurodegeneration, we have compared the response to exogenous NMDA in CA1 pyramidal cells and interneurons of the stratum oriens using combined whole-cell patch-clamp recording and ratiometric Ca2+ imaging. In voltage-clamp, current-clamp or in nominally Mg2+ -free medium, NMDA (10 µm; 3,5 min exposure in the presence of tetrodotoxin) induced a markedly larger inward current and Ca2+ rise in pyramidal cells than in interneurons. Pyramidal cells also showed a more pronounced voltage dependence in their response to NMDA. We hypothesized that this enhanced response to NMDA receptor activation in pyramidal cells could underlie their increased vulnerability to excitotoxicity. Using loss of dye as an indicator of degenerative membrane disruption, interneurons tolerated continuous exposure to a high concentration of NMDA (30 µm) for longer periods than pyramidal cells. This acute neurodegeneration in pyramidal cells was independent of intracellular Ca2+, because high intracellular BAPTA (20 mm) did not prolong survival time. Thus, a plausible explanation for the enhanced sensitivity of pyramidal neurons to excitotoxic insults associated with cerebral ischemia is their greater response to NMDA receptor activation, which may reflect differences in NMDA receptor expression and/or subunit composition. [source]


The development of hippocampal interneurons in rodents

HIPPOCAMPUS, Issue 12 2006
Lydia Danglot
Abstract Interneurons are GABAergic neurons responsible for inhibitory activity in the adult hippocampus, thereby controlling the activity of principal excitatory cells through the activation of postsynaptic GABAA receptors. Subgroups of GABAergic neurons innervate specific parts of excitatory neurons. This specificity indicates that particular interneuron subgroups are able to recognize molecules segregated on the membrane of the pyramidal neuron. Once these specific connections are established, a quantitative regulation of their strength must be performed to achieve the proper balance of excitation and inhibition. We will review when and where interneurons are generated. We will then detail their migration toward and within the hippocampus, and the maturation of their morphological and neurochemical characteristics. We will finally review potential mechanisms underlying the development of GABAergic interneurons. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Mechanisms of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs action on ASICs expressed in hippocampal interneurons

JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2008
Natalia A. Dorofeeva
Abstract The inhibitory action of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs was investigated on acid-sensing ionic channels (ASIC) in isolated hippocampal interneurons and on recombinant ASICs expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Diclofenac and ibuprofen inhibited proton-induced currents in hippocampal interneurons (IC50 were 622 ± 34 ,M and 3.42 ± 0.50 mM, respectively). This non-competitive effect was fast and fully reversible for both drugs. Aspirin and salicylic acid at 500 ,M were ineffective. Diclofenac and ibuprofen decreased the amplitude of proton-evoked currents and slowed the rates of current decay with a good correlation between these effects. Simultaneous application of acid solution and diclofenac was required for its inhibitory effect. Unlike amiloride, the action of diclofenac was voltage-independent and no competition between two drugs was found. Analysis of the action of diclofenac and ibuprofen on activation and desensitization of ASICs showed that diclofenac but not ibuprofen shifted the steady-state desensitization curve to more alkaline pH values. The reason for this shift was slowing down the recovery from desensitization of ASICs. Thus, diclofenac may serve as a neuroprotective agent during pathological conditions associated with acidification. [source]


GABAB receptor modulation of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission onto rat CA3 hippocampal interneurons

THE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 2 2003
Saobo Lei
Hippocampal stratum radiatum inhibitory interneurons receive glutamatergic excitatory innervation via the recurrent collateral fibers of CA3 pyramidal neurons and GABAergic inhibition from other interneurons. We examined both presynaptic- and postsynaptic-GABAB receptor-mediated responses at both synapse types. Postsynaptic GABAB receptor-mediated responses were absent in recordings from young (P16-18) but present in recordings from older animals (P30) suggesting developmental regulation. In young animals, the GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen, inhibited the amplitude of evoked EPSCs and IPSCs, an effect blocked by prior application of the selective antagonist CGP55845. Baclofen enhanced the paired-pulse ratio and coefficient of variation of evoked EPSCs and IPSCs, consistent with a presynaptic mechanism of regulation. In addition, baclofen reduced the frequency of miniature IPSCs but not mEPSCs. However, baclofen reduced the frequency of KCl-induced mEPSCs; an effect blocked by Cd2+, implicating presynaptic voltage-gated Ca2+ channels as a target for baclofen modulation. In contrast, although Cd2+ prevented the KCl-induced increase in mIPSC frequency, it failed to block baclofen's reduction of mIPSC frequency. Whereas N- and P/Q-types of Ca2+ channels contributed equally to GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition of EPSCs, more P/Q-type Ca2+ channels were involved in GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition of IPSCs. Finally, baclofen blocked the frequency-dependent depression of EPSCs and IPSCs, but was less effective at blocking frequency-dependent facilitation of EPSCs. Our results demonstrate that presynaptic GABAB receptors are expressed on the terminals of both excitatory and inhibitory synapses onto CA3 interneurons and that their activation modulates essential components of the release process underlying transmission at these two synapse types. [source]


Parvalbumin-, calbindin-, and calretinin-immunoreactive hippocampal interneuron density in autism

ACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2 2010
Y. A. Lawrence
Lawrence YA, Kemper TL, Bauman ML, Blatt GJ. Parvalbumin-, calbindin-, and calretinin-immunoreactive hippocampal interneuron density in autism. Acta Neurol Scand: 2010: 121: 99,108. © 2009 The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Munksgaard. Background ,, There has been a long-standing interest in the possible role of the hippocampus in autism and both postmortem brain and neuroimaging studies have documented varying abnormalities in this limbic system structure. Aims ,, This study investigates the density of subsets of hippocampal interneurons, immunostained with the calcium binding proteins, calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR) and parvalbumin (PV) to determine whether specific subpopulations of interneurons are impacted in autism. Materials and methods ,, Unbiased stereological techniques were used to quantify the neuronal density of these immunoreactive subpopulations of gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic (GABAergic) interneurons analyzed in the CA and subicular fields in postmortem brain material obtained from five autistic and five age-, gender- and postmortem interval-matched control cases. Results ,, Results indicate a selective increase in the density of CB-immunoreactive interneurons in the dentate gyrus, an increase in CR-immunoreactive interneurons in area CA1, and an increase in PV-immunoreactive interneurons in areas CA1 and CA3 in the hippocampus of individuals with autism when compared with controls. Discussion/conclusions ,, Although our sample size is small, these findings suggest that GABAergic interneurons may represent a vulnerable target in the brains of individuals with autism, potentially impacting upon their key role in learning and information processing. These preliminary findings further suggest the need for future more expanded studies in a larger number of postmortem brain samples from cases of autism and controls. [source]