scholarly journals Thalamic circuitry and thalamocortical synchrony

2002 ◽  
Vol 357 (1428) ◽  
pp. 1659-1673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward G. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Oscillatory Activity ◽  
Reticular Nucleus ◽  
Cortical Cells ◽  
Dorsal Thalamus ◽  
High Frequency Oscillations ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Layer V ◽  
Layer Vi

The corticothalamic system has an important role in synchronizing the activities of thalamic and cortical neurons. Numerically, its synapses dominate the inputs to relay cells and to the γ–amino butyric acid (GABA)ergic cells of the reticular nucleus (RTN). The capacity of relay neurons to operate in different voltage–dependent functional modes determines that the inputs from the cortex have the capacity directly to excite the relay cells, or indirectly to inhibit them via the RTN, serving to synchronize high– or low–frequency oscillatory activity respectively in the thalamocorticothalamic network. Differences in the α–amino–3–hydroxy–5–methyl–4–isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) subunit composition of receptors at synapses formed by branches of the same corticothalamic axon in the RTN and dorsal thalamus are an important element in the capacity of the cortex to synchronize low–frequency oscillations in the network. Interactions of focused corticothalamic axons arising from layer VI cortical cells and diffuse corticothalamic axons arising from layer V cortical cells, with the specifically projecting core relay cells and diffusely projecting matrix cells of the dorsal thalamus, form a substrate for synchronization of widespread populations of cortical and thalamic cells during high–frequency oscillations that underlie discrete conscious events.

scholarly journals Propagation of cortical activity via open-loop intrathalamic architectures: a computational analysis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey W. Brown ◽  
Aynaz Taheri ◽  
Robert V. Kenyon ◽  
Tanya Berger-Wolf ◽  
Daniel A. Llano
Keyword(s):  
Closed Loop ◽  
Neural Model ◽  
Signal Propagation ◽  
Open Loop ◽  
Thalamic Reticular Nucleus ◽  
Oscillatory Activity ◽  
Reticular Nucleus ◽  
Dorsal Thalamus ◽  
In Series ◽  
Intracortical Connectivity

AbstractPropagation of signals across the cerebral cortex is a core component of many cognitive processes and is generally thought to be mediated by direct intracortical connectivity. The thalamus, by contrast, is considered to be devoid of internal connections and organized as a collection of parallel inputs to the cortex. Here, we provide evidence that “open-loop” intrathalamic connections involving the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) can support propagation of oscillatory activity across the cortex. Recent studies support the existence of open-loop thalamo-reticulo-thalamic (TC-TRN-TC) synaptic motifs in addition to traditional closed-loop architectures. We hypothesized that open-loop structural modules, when connected in series, might underlie thalamic and, therefore cortical, signal propagation. Using a supercomputing platform to simulate thousands of permutations of a thalamo-reticular-cortical network and allowing select synapses to vary both by class and individually, we evaluated the relative capacities of closed- and open-loop TC-TRN-TC synaptic configurations to support both propagation and oscillation. We observed that 1) signal propagation was best supported in networks possessing strong open-loop TC-TRN-TC connectivity; 2) intrareticular synapses were neither primary substrates of propagation nor oscillation; and 3) heterogeneous synaptic networks supported more robust propagation of oscillation than their homogeneous counterparts. These findings suggest that open-loop heterogeneous intrathalamic architectures complement direct intracortical connectivity to facilitate cortical signal propagation.Significance StatementInteractions between the dorsal thalamus and thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) are speculated to contribute to phenomena such as arousal, attention, sleep, and seizures. Despite the importance of the TRN, the synaptic microarchitectures forming the basis for dorsal thalamus-TRN interactions are not fully understood. The computational neural model we present incorporates “open-loop” thalamo-reticular-thalamic (TC-TRN-TC) synaptic motifs, which have been experimentally observed. We elucidate how open-loop motifs possess the capacity to shape the propagative properties of signals intrinsic to the thalamus and evaluate the wave dynamics they support relative to closed-loop TC-TRN-TC pathways and intrareticular synaptic connections. Our model also generates predictions regarding how different spatial distributions of reticulothalamic and intrareticular synapses affect these signaling properties.

N-Methyl-d-Aspartate–Induced Oscillations in Whole Cell Clamped Neurons From the Isolated Spinal Cord of Xenopus laevis Embryos

1999 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 1069-1073 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Prime ◽  
Y. Pichon ◽  
L. E. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Oscillatory Activity ◽  
Patch Clamp Technique ◽  
Whole Cell ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Whole Cell Recordings ◽  
External Calcium ◽  
Xenopus Laevis Embryos ◽  
Embryonic Neurons

The patch-clamp technique was used to measure the effect of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) on Xenopus embryonic neurons in an isolated, but intact spinal cord. Whole cell recordings were done at external calcium concentrations of 1 mM. NMDA alone (50–200 μM) or in association with 10 μM serotonin or glycine induced oscillatory activity in most presumed motoneurons, which were therefore considered part of rhythm generating networks. In the presence of TTX, one-half of these neurons maintained this activity. The oscillations fell into two main categories: voltage-dependent, low-frequency (0.3–0.5 Hz) and voltage-independent, high-frequency (3–8 Hz) oscillations. NMDA alone induced TTX-insensitive oscillations in one-third of the neurons; however, the percentage of neurons showing oscillations was greater in the presence of exogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) or glycine. Because these observations were made at embryonic stages where little or no serotonergic innervation exists, it is likely that NMDA-induced intrinsic oscillatory activity in Xenopus embryonic neurons does not require 5-HT.

Dendritic Resonance in Rat Neocortical Pyramidal Cells

2002 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
pp. 2753-2759 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Ulrich
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Apical Dendrite ◽  
Threshold Current ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Transfer Impedance ◽  
Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Layer V ◽  
Rat Somatosensory Cortex

Dendritic integration of synaptic signals is likely to be an important process by which nerve cells encode synaptic input into spike output. However, the response properties of dendrites to time-varying inputs are largely unknown. Here, I determine the transfer impedance of the apical dendrite in layer V pyramidal cells by dual whole cell patch-clamp recordings in slices of rat somatosensory cortex. Sinusoidal current waveforms of linearly changing frequencies (0.1–25 Hz) were alternately injected into the soma or apical dendrite and the resulting voltage oscillations recorded by the second electrode. Dendrosomatic and somatodendritic transfer impedances were calculated by Fourier analysis. At near physiological temperatures ( T∼35°C), the transfer impedance had a maximal magnitude at low frequencies ( f res ∼6 Hz). In addition, voltage led current up to ∼3 Hz, followed by a current lead over voltage at higher frequencies. Thus the transfer impedance of the apical dendrite is characterized by a low-frequency resonance. The frequency of the resonance was voltage dependent, and its strength increased with dendritic distance. The resonance was completely abolished by the I h channel blocker ZD 7288. Dendrosomatic and somatodendritic transfer properties of the apical dendrite were independent of direction or amplitude of the input current, and the responses of individual versus distributed inputs were additive, thus implying linearity. For just threshold current injections, action potentials were generated preferentially at the resonating frequency. I conclude that due to the interplay of a sag current ( I h) with the membrane capacitance, layer V pyramids can act as linear band-pass filters with a frequency preference in the theta frequency band.

scholarly journals Maternal Ethanol Exposure Acutely Elevates Src Family Kinase Activity in the Fetal Cortex

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dandan Wang ◽  
Brian W. Howell ◽  
Eric C. Olson
Keyword(s):  
Tyrosine Phosphorylation ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Fetal Brain ◽  
Ethanol Exposure ◽  
Src Family Kinase ◽  
Cortical Cells ◽  
Signaling Systems ◽  
Sustained Reduction ◽  
Reelin Signaling

AbstractFetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is characterized by disrupted fetal brain development and postnatal cognitive impairment. The targets of alcohol are diverse, and it is not clear whether there are common underlying molecular mechanisms producing these disruptions. Prior work established that acute ethanol exposure causes a transient increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple proteins in cultured embryonic cortical cells. In this study, we show that a similar tyrosine phosphorylation transient occurs in the fetal brain after maternal dosing with ethanol. Using phospho-specific antibodies and immunohistochemistry, we mapped regions of highest tyrosine phosphorylation in the fetal cerebral cortex and found that areas of dendritic and axonal growth showed elevated tyrosine phosphorylation 10 min after maternal ethanol exposure. These were also areas of Src expression and Src family kinase (SFK) activation loop phosphorylation (pY416) expression. Importantly, maternal pretreatment with the SFK inhibitor dasatinib completely prevents both the pY416 increase and the tyrosine phosphorylation response. The phosphorylation response was observed in the perisomatic region and neurites of immature migrating and differentiating primary neurons. Importantly, the initial phosphotyrosine transient (~ 30 min) targets both Src and Dab1, two critical elements in Reelin signaling, a pathway required for normal cortical development. This initial phosphorylation response is followed by sustained reduction in Ser3 phosphorylation of n-cofilin, a critical actin severing protein and an identified downstream effector of Reelin signaling. This biochemical disruption is associated with sustained reduction of F-actin content and disrupted Golgi apparatus morphology in developing cortical neurons. The finding outlines a model in which the initial activation of SFKs by ethanol has the potential to disrupt multiple developmentally important signaling systems for several hours after maternal exposure.

Stimulation of 5-HT2 Receptors in Prefrontal Pyramidal Neurons Inhibits Cav1.2 L-Type Ca2+Currents Via a PLCβ/IP3/Calcineurin Signaling Cascade

2002 ◽  
Vol 87 (5) ◽  
pp. 2490-2504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Day ◽  
Patricia A. Olson ◽  
Josef Platzer ◽  
Joerg Striessnig ◽  
D. James Surmeier
Keyword(s):  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Inositol Trisphosphate ◽  
Cell Voltage ◽  
Signaling Cascade ◽  
Channel Modulation ◽  
Receptor Modulation ◽  
Bath Application ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Intracellular Ca ◽  
Layer V

There is growing evidence linking alterations in serotonergic signaling in the prefrontal cortex to the etiology of schizophrenia. Prefrontal pyramidal neurons are richly innervated by serotonergic fibers and express high levels of serotonergic 5-HT2-class receptors. It is unclear, however, how activation of these receptors modulates cellular activity. To help fill this gap, whole cell voltage-clamp and single-cell RT-PCR studies of acutely isolated layer V–VI prefrontal pyramidal neurons were undertaken. The vast majority (>80%) of these neurons had detectable levels of 5-HT2A or 5-HT2C receptor mRNA. Bath application of 5-HT2 agonists inhibited voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel currents. L-type Ca2+ channels were a particularly prominent target of this signaling pathway. The L-type channel modulation was blocked by disruption of Gαq signaling or by inhibition of phospholipase Cβ. Antagonism of intracellular inositol trisphosphate signaling, chelation of intracellular Ca2+, or depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores also blocked this modulation. Inhibition of the Ca2+-dependent phosphatase calcineurin prevented receptor-mediated modulation of L-type currents. Last, the 5-HT2 receptor modulation was robustly expressed in neurons from Cav1.3 knockout mice. These findings argue that 5-HT2receptors couple through Gαq proteins to trigger a phospholipase Cβ/inositol trisphosphate signaling cascade resulting in the mobilization of intracellular Ca2+, activation of calcineurin, and inhibition of Cav1.2 L-type Ca2+currents. This modulation and its blockade by atypical neuroleptics could have wide-ranging effects on synaptic integration and long-term gene expression in deep-layer prefrontal pyramidal neurons.

Effects of 5-HT on thalamocortical synaptic transmission in the developing rat

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 2438-2450 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Rhoades ◽  
C. A. Bennett-Clarke ◽  
M. Y. Shi ◽  
R. D. Mooney
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Somatosensory Cortex ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Input Resistance ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Primary Somatosensory Cortex ◽  
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Cortical Cells ◽  
Thalamocortical Axons

1. Recent immunocytochemical and receptor binding data have demonstrated a transient somatotopic patterning of serotonin (5-HT)-immunoreactive fibers in the primary somatosensory cortex of developing rats and a transient expression of 5-HT1B receptors on thalamocortical axons from the ventral posteromedial thalamic nucleus (VPM). 2. These results suggest that 5-HT should strongly modulate thalamocortical synaptic transmission for a limited time during postnatal development. This hypothesis was tested in intracellular recording experiments carried out in thalamocortical slice preparations that included VPM, the thalamic radiations, and the primary somatosensory cortex. Effects of 5-HT and analogues were monitored on membrane potentials and input resistances of cortical neurons and on the amplitude of the synaptic potentials evoked in them by stimulation of VPM. 3. Results obtained from cortical neurons in slices taken from rats during the first 2 wk of life indicated that 5-HT strongly inhibited the VPM-evoked excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) recorded from cortical neurons in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, 5-HT had no significant effects on membrane potential, input resistance, or depolarizations induced by direct application of glutamic acid to cortical cells. 4. The effects of 5-HT were mimicked by the 5-HT1B receptor agonists 1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-piperazine (TFMPP) and 7-trifluoromethyl-4(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-pyrrolo[1,2-a]-quinoxaline maleate and antagonized by the 5-HT1B receptor antagonist (-)-pindolol. The 5-HT1A agonist [(+/-)8-hydroxydipropylaminotetralin HBr] (8-OH-DPAT) had less effect on the VPM-elicited EPSP, and the effects of 5-HT upon this response were generally not antagonized by either 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4-[4-(2- phthalimmido)butyl]piperazine HBr (a 5-HT1A antagonist) or ketanserine (a 5-HT2 antagonist) or spiperone (a 5-HT1A and 2 antagonist). 5. The ability of 5-HT to inhibit the VPM-evoked EPSP in cortical neurons was significantly reduced in slices from animals > 2 wk of age. The effectiveness of TFMPP in such animals was even more attenuated than that of 5-HT, and the effectiveness of 8-OH-DPAT was unchanged with age. These results are consistent with the disappearance of 5-HT1B receptors from thalamocortical axons after the second postnatal week and the maintenance of 5-HT1A receptors on some neurons. 6. All of the results obtained in this study are consistent with the conclusion that 5-HT has a profound, but developmentally transient, presynaptic inhibitory effect upon thalamocortical transmission in the rat's somatosensory cortex.

scholarly journals Synaptic Interactions Between Forelimb-Related Motor Cortex Neurons in Behaving Primates

2009 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 1026-1039 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. S. Smith ◽  
E. E. Fetz
Keyword(s):  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Central Peak ◽  
Response Patterns ◽  
Cortical Cells ◽  
Common Input ◽  
Excitatory Connection ◽  
Synaptic Interactions ◽  
Central Trough ◽  
Linear Fit ◽  
Layer V

We investigated the synaptic interactions between neighboring motor cortex cells in monkeys generating isometric ramp-and-hold torques about the wrist. For pairs of cortical cells the response patterns were determined in response-aligned averages and their synaptic interactions were identified by cross-correlation histograms. Cross-correlograms were compiled for 215 cell pairs and 84 (39%) showed significant features. The most frequently found feature (65/84 = 77%) was a central peak, straddling the origin and representing a source of common synaptic input to both cells. One third of these also had superimposed lagged peaks, indicative of a serial excitatory connection. Pure lagged peaks and lagged troughs, indicative of serial excitatory or inhibitory linkages, respectively, both occurred in 5% of the correlograms with features. A central trough appeared in 13% of the correlograms. The magnitude of the synaptic linkage was measured as the normalized area of the correlogram feature. Plotting the strength of synaptic interaction against response similarity during alternating wrist torques revealed a positive relationship for the correlated cell pairs. A linear fit yielded a positive slope: the pairs with excitatory interactions tended to covary more often than countervary. This linear fit had a positive offset, reflecting a tendency for both covarying and countervarying cells to have excitatory common input. Plotting the cortical location of the cell pairs showed that the strongest interactions occurred between cells separated by <400 microns. The correlational linkages between cells of different cortical layers showed a large proportion of common input to cells in layer V.

scholarly journals Subthreshold membrane potential dynamics of posterior parietal cortical neurons coupled with hippocampal ripples

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Sato ◽  
H. Mizuno ◽  
N. Matsumoto ◽  
Y. Ikegaya
Keyword(s):  
Local Field ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Posterior Parietal Cortex ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Membrane Potentials ◽  
High Frequency Oscillations ◽  
Neocortical Neurons ◽  
Field Activity ◽  
Posterior Parietal ◽  
Post Hoc

AbstractDuring behavioral states of immobility, sleep, and anesthesia, the hippocampus generates high-frequency oscillations called ripples. Ripples occur simultaneously with synchronous neuronal activity in the neocortex, known as slow waves, and contribute to memory consolidation. During these ripples, various neocortical regions exhibit modulations in spike rates and local field activity irrespective of whether they receive direct synaptic inputs from the hippocampus. However, little is known about the subthreshold dynamics of the membrane potentials of neocortical neurons during ripples. We patch-clamped layer 2/3 pyramidal cells in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC), a neocortical region that is involved in allocentric spatial representation of behavioral exploration and sequential series of relevant action potentials during ripples. We simultaneously monitored the membrane potentials of post hoc-identified PPC neurons and the local field potentials of the hippocampus in anesthetized mice. More than 50% of the recorded PPC neurons exhibited significant depolarizations and/or hyperpolarizations during ripples. Histological inspections of the recorded neurons revealed that the ripple-modulated PPC neurons were distributed in the PPC in a spatially non-biased fashion. These results suggest that hippocampal ripples are widely but selectively associated with the subthreshold dynamics of the membrane potentials of PPC neurons even though there is no monosynaptic connectivity between the hippocampus and the PPC.

scholarly journals Spindle-Shaped Neurons in the Human Posteromedial (Precuneus) Cortex

2022 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Javier Fuentealba-Villarroel ◽  
Josué Renner ◽  
Arlete Hilbig ◽  
Oliver J. Bruton ◽  
Alberto A. Rasia-Filho
Keyword(s):  
Brain Area ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Golgi Method ◽  
Cortical Layer ◽  
Von Economo Neurons ◽  
Dendritic Length ◽  
Adult Humans ◽  
Layer V ◽  
Layer Vi

The human posteromedial cortex (PMC), which includes the precuneus (PC), represents a multimodal brain area implicated in emotion, conscious awareness, spatial cognition, and social behavior. Here, we describe the presence of Nissl-stained elongated spindle-shaped neurons (suggestive of von Economo neurons, VENs) in the cortical layer V of the anterior and central PC of adult humans. The adapted “single-section” Golgi method for postmortem tissue was used to study these neurons close to pyramidal ones in layer V until merging with layer VI polymorphic cells. From three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed images, we describe the cell body, two main longitudinally oriented ascending and descending dendrites as well as the occurrence of spines from proximal to distal segments. The primary dendritic shafts give rise to thin collateral branches with a radial orientation, and pleomorphic spines were observed with a sparse to moderate density along the dendritic length. Other spindle-shaped cells were observed with straight dendritic shafts and rare branches or with an axon emerging from the soma. We discuss the morphology of these cells and those considered VENs in cortical areas forming integrated brain networks for higher-order activities. The presence of spindle-shaped neurons and the current discussion on the morphology of putative VENs address the need for an in-depth neurochemical and transcriptomic characterization of the PC cytoarchitecture. These findings would include these spindle-shaped cells in the synaptic and information processing by the default mode network and for general intelligence in healthy individuals and in neuropsychiatric disorders involving the PC in the context of the PMC functioning.

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