Single granule cells reliably discharge targets in the hippocampal CA3 network in vivo

Lighting up pre-synaptic potentiation: An Editorial for "SynaptoPAC, an optogenetic tool for induction of presynaptic plasticity" on page 324

This is an Editorial Highlight of a manuscript by Oldani et al. (2020) (Oldani et al. 2020) in the current issue of the Journal of Neurochemistry, in which the authors describe synaptoPAC, a new optogenetic tool. SynaptoPAC is targeted to pre-synaptic compartments and can be used for light-induced increase of the levels of cAMP. Pre-synaptic plasticity, defined as activity-dependent modulation of neurotransmitter release, occurs over a variety of time scales. At a subset of synapses in the brain, long-term forms of pre-synaptic facilitation depend on an increase in the levels of cAMP. Light-induced modulation of cAMP at synapses expressing cAMP-dependent facilitation, has the great potential to mimic pre-synaptic plasticity at genetically targeted synapses. Therefore, synaptoPAC constitutes a powerful tool to study the role of pre-synaptic potentiation in the activity of selected neuronal circuits in relation to behaving animals with a high temporal and spatial precision.

The Autism Palette: Combinations of Impairments Explain the Heterogeneity in ASD

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neuropsychiatric condition traditionally defined by core symptoms in social behavior, speech/communication, repetitive behavior, and restricted interests. Beyond the core symptoms, autism has strong association with other disorders such as intellectual disability (ID), epilepsy, schizophrenia among many others. This paper outlines a theory of ASD with capacity to connect heterogeneous "core" symptoms, medical and psychiatric comorbidities as well as other etiological theories of autism in a unifying cognitive framework rooted in neuroscience and genetics. Cognition is embedded into an ever-developing structure modified by experiences, including the outcomes of environment influencing behaviors. The key constraint of cognition is that the brain can handle only 7±2 relevant variables at a time, whereas sensory variables, i.e., the number of sensory neurons is orders of magnitude larger. As a result, (a) the extraction, (b) the encoding, and (c) the capability for the efficient cognitive manipulation of the relevant variables, and (d) the compensatory mechanisms that counteract computational delays of the distributed components are critical. We outline our theoretical model to describe a Cartesian Factor (CF) forming, autoencoder-like cognitive mechanism which breaks combinatorial explosion and is accelerated by internal reinforcing machineries and discuss the neural processes that support CF formation. Impairments in any of these aspects may disrupt learning, cognitive manipulation, decisions on interactions, and execution of decisions. We suggest that social interactions are the most susceptible to combinations of diverse small impairments and can be spoiled in many ways that pile up. Comorbidity is experienced, if any of the many potential impairments is relatively strong. We consider component spoiling impairments as the basic colors of autism, whereas the combinations of individual impairments make the palette of autism. We put forth arguments on the possibility of dissociating the different main elements of the impairments that can appear together. For example, impairments of generalization (domain general learning) and impairments of dealing with many variable problems, such as social situations may appear independently and may mutually enhance their impacts. We also consider mechanisms that may lead to protection.

Mechanisms Underlying Memory Consolidation by Adult-Born Neurons During Sleep

The mammalian hippocampus generates new neurons that incorporate into existing neuronal networks throughout the lifespan, which bestows a unique form of cellular plasticity to the memory system. Recently, we found that hippocampal adult-born neurons (ABNs) that were active during learning reactivate during subsequent rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and provided causal evidence that ABN activity during REM sleep is necessary for memory consolidation. Here, we describe the potential underlying mechanisms by highlighting distinct characteristics of ABNs including decoupled firing from local oscillations and ability to undergo profound synaptic remodeling in response to experience. We further discuss whether ABNs constitute the conventional definition of engram cells by focusing on their active and passive roles in the memory system. This synthesis of evidence helps advance our thinking on the unique mechanisms by which ABNs contribute to memory consolidation.

An Excitatory and Epileptogenic Effect of Dentate Gyrus Mossy Cells in a Mouse Model of Epilepsy

The sparse activity of hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) granule cells (GCs) is thought to be critical for cognition and behavior, whereas excessive DG activity may contribute to disorders such as temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Glutamatergic mossy cells (MCs) of the DG are potentially critical to normal and pathological functions of the DG because they can regulate GC activity through innervation of GCs or indirectly through GABAergic neurons. Here, we test the hypothesis that MC excitation of GCs is normally weak, but under pathological conditions, MC excitation of GCs is dramatically strengthened. We show that selectively inhibiting MCs during severe seizures reduced manifestations of those seizures, hippocampal injury, and chronic epilepsy. In contrast, selectively activating MCs was pro-convulsant. Mechanistic in vitro studies using optogenetics further demonstrated the unanticipated ability of MC axons to excite GCs under pathological conditions. These results demonstrate an excitatory and epileptogenic effect of MCs in the DG.

Synapse type-specific proteomic dissection identifies IgSF8 as a hippocampal CA3 microcircuit organizer

Excitatory and inhibitory neurons are connected into microcircuits that generate circuit output. Central in the hippocampal CA3 microcircuit is the mossy fiber (MF) synapse, which provides powerful direct excitatory input and indirect feedforward inhibition to CA3 pyramidal neurons. Here, we dissect its cell-surface protein (CSP) composition to discover novel regulators of MF synaptic connectivity. Proteomic profiling of isolated MF synaptosomes uncovers a rich CSP composition, including many CSPs without synaptic function and several that are uncharacterized. Cell-surface interactome screening identifies IgSF8 as a neuronal receptor enriched in the MF pathway. Presynaptic Igsf8 deletion impairs MF synaptic architecture and robustly decreases the density of bouton filopodia that provide feedforward inhibition. Consequently, IgSF8 loss impairs excitation/inhibition balance and increases excitability of CA3 pyramidal neurons. Our results provide insight into the CSP landscape and interactome of a specific excitatory synapse and reveal IgSF8 as a critical regulator of CA3 microcircuit connectivity and function.

Mossy fiber synapses are key in CA3 microcircuit function. Here, the authors profile the mossy fiber synapse proteome and cell-surface interactome. They uncover a diverse repertoire of cell-surface proteins and identify the receptor IgSF8 as a regulator of CA3 microcircuit connectivity and function.

Place cell maps slowly develop via competitive learning and conjunctive coding in the dentate gyrus

Place cells exhibit spatially selective firing fields that collectively map the continuum of positions in environments; how such activity pattern develops with experience is largely unknown. Here, we record putative granule cells (GCs) and mossy cells (MCs) from the dentate gyrus (DG) over 27 days as mice repetitively run through a sequence of objects fixed onto a treadmill belt. We observe a progressive transformation of GC spatial representations, from a sparse encoding of object locations and spatial patterns to increasingly more single, evenly dispersed place fields, while MCs show little transformation and preferentially encode object locations. A competitive learning model of the DG reproduces GC transformations via the progressive integration of landmark-vector cells and spatial inputs and requires MC-mediated feedforward inhibition to evenly distribute GC representations, suggesting that GCs slowly encode conjunctions of objects and spatial information via competitive learning, while MCs help homogenize GC spatial representations.

Place cells in the hippocampus fire action potentials at spatially selective firing fields that collectively map the environments. Here, the authors show how these activity patterns develop with experience in mice and determine the importance of competitive learning in this process.

Local Design Principles at Hippocampal Synapses Revealed by an Energy-Information Trade-Off

Synapses across different brain regions display distinct structure-function relationships. We investigated the interplay of fundamental design constraints that shape the transmission properties of the excitatory CA3-CA1 pyramidal cell connection, a prototypic synapse for studying the mechanisms of learning in the mammalian hippocampus. This small synapse is characterized by probabilistic release of transmitter, which is markedly facilitated in response to naturally occurring trains of action potentials. Based on a physiologically motivated computational model of the rat CA3 presynaptic terminal, we show how unreliability and short-term dynamics of vesicular release work together to regulate the trade-off of information transfer versus energy use. We propose that individual CA3-CA1 synapses are designed to operate near the maximum possible capacity of information transmission in an efficient manner. Experimental measurements reveal a wide range of vesicular release probabilities at hippocampal synapses, which may be a necessary consequence of long-term plasticity and homeostatic mechanisms that manifest as presynaptic modifications of the release probability. We show that the timescales and magnitude of short-term plasticity (STP) render synaptic information transfer nearly independent of differences in release probability. Thus, individual synapses transmit optimally while maintaining a heterogeneous distribution of presynaptic strengths indicative of synaptically-encoded memory representations. Our results support the view that organizing principles that are evident on higher scales of neural organization percolate down to the design of an individual synapse.

Semilunar Granule Cells Are the Primary Source of the Perisomatic Excitatory Innervation onto Parvalbumin-Expressing Interneurons in the Dentate Gyrus

We analyzed the origin and relevance of the perisomatic excitatory inputs on the parvalbumin interneurons of the granule cell layer in mouse. Confocal analysis of the glutamatergic innervation showed that it represents ∼50% of the perisomatic synapses that parvalbumin cells receive. This excitatory input may originate from granule cell collaterals, the mossy cells, or even supramammillary nucleus. First, we assessed the input from the mossy cells on parvalbumin interneurons. Axon terminals of mossy cells were visualized by their calretinin content. Using multicolor confocal microscopy, we observed that less than 10% of perisomatic excitatory innervation of parvalbumin cells could originate from mossy cells. Correlative light and electron microscopy revealed that innervation from mossy cells, although present, was indeed infrequent, except for those parvalbumin cells whose somata were located in the inner molecular layer. Second, we investigated the potential input from supramammillary nucleus on parvalbumin cell somata using anterograde tracing or immunocytochemistry against vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2) and found only occasional contacts. Third, we intracellularly filled dentate granule cells in acute slice preparations using whole-cell recording and examined whether their axon collaterals target parvalbumin interneurons. We found that typical granule cells do not innervate the perisomatic region of these GABAergic cells. In sharp contrast, semilunar granule cells (SGCs), a scarce granule cell subtype often contacted the parvalbumin cell soma and proximal dendrites. Our data, therefore, show that perisomatic excitatory drive of parvalbumin interneurons in the granular layer of the dentate gyrus is abundant and originates primarily from SGCs.

Slow-decaying presynaptic calcium dynamics gate long-lasting asynchronous release at the hippocampal mossy fiber to CA3 pyramidal cell synapse

Action potentials trigger two modes of neurotransmitter release, with a fast synchronous component and a temporally delayed asynchronous release. Asynchronous release contributes to information transfer at synapses, including at the hippocampal mossy fiber (MF) to CA3 pyramidal cell synapse where it controls the timing of postsynaptic CA3 pyramidal neuron firing. Here, we identified and characterized the main determinants of asynchronous release at the MF–CA3 synapse. We found that asynchronous release at MF–CA3 synapses can last on the order of seconds following repetitive MF stimulation. Elevating the stimulation frequency or the external Ca²⁺ concentration increased the rate of asynchronous release, thus, arguing that presynaptic Ca²⁺ dynamics is the major determinant of asynchronous release rate. Direct MF bouton Ca²⁺ imaging revealed slow Ca²⁺ decay kinetics of action potential (AP) burst‐evoked Ca²⁺ transients. Finally, we observed that asynchronous release was preferentially mediated by Ca²⁺ influx through P/Q‐type voltage‐gated Ca²⁺ channels, while the contribution of N‐type VGCCs was limited. Overall, our results uncover the determinants of long‐lasting asynchronous release from MF terminals and suggest that asynchronous release could influence CA3 pyramidal cell firing up to seconds following termination of granule cell bursting.

Adult-Born Hippocampal Neurons Undergo Extended Development and Are Morphologically Distinct from Neonatally-Born Neurons

During immature stages, adult-born neurons pass through critical periods for survival and plasticity. It is generally assumed that by 2 months of age adult-born neurons are mature and equivalent to the broader neuronal population, raising questions of how they might contribute to hippocampal function in old age when neurogenesis has declined. However, few have examined adult-born neurons beyond the critical period or directly compared them to neurons born in infancy. Here, we used a retrovirus to visualize functionally relevant morphological features of 2- to 24-week-old adult-born neurons in male rats. From 2 to 7 weeks, neurons grew and attained a relatively mature phenotype. However, several features of 7-week-old neurons suggested a later wave of growth: these neurons had larger nuclei, thicker dendrites, and more dendritic filopodia than all other groups. Indeed, between 7 and 24 weeks, adult-born neurons gained additional dendritic branches, formed a second primary dendrite, acquired more mushroom spines, and had enlarged mossy fiber presynaptic terminals. Compared with neonatal-born neurons, old adult-born neurons had greater spine density, larger presynaptic terminals, and more putative efferent filopodial contacts onto inhibitory neurons. By integrating rates of cell birth and growth across the life span, we estimate that adult neurogenesis ultimately produces half of the cells and the majority of spines in the dentate gyrus. Critically, protracted development contributes to the plasticity of the hippocampus through to the end of life, even after cell production declines. Persistent differences from neonatal-born neurons may additionally endow adult-born neurons with unique functions even after they have matured.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neurogenesis occurs in the hippocampus throughout adult life and contributes to memory and emotion. It is generally assumed that new neurons have the greatest impact on behavior when they are immature and plastic. However, since neurogenesis declines dramatically with age, it is unclear how they might contribute to behavior later in life when cell proliferation has slowed. Here we find that newborn neurons mature over many months in rats and may end up with distinct morphological features compared with neurons born in infancy. Using a mathematical model, we estimate that a large fraction of neurons is added in adulthood. Moreover, their extended growth produces a reserve of plasticity that persists even after neurogenesis has declined to low rates.

Short-Term Plasticity at Hippocampal Mossy Fiber Synapses Is Induced by Natural Activity Patterns and Associated with Vesicle Pool Engram Formation

Post-tetanic potentiation (PTP) is an attractive candidate mechanism for hippocampus-dependent short-term memory. Although PTP has a uniquely large magnitude at hippocampal mossy fiber-CA3 pyramidal neuron synapses, it is unclear whether it can be induced by natural activity and whether its lifetime is sufficient to support short-term memory. We combined in vivo recordings from granule cells (GCs), in vitro paired recordings from mossy fiber terminals and postsynaptic CA3 neurons, and “flash and freeze” electron microscopy. PTP was induced at single synapses and showed a low induction threshold adapted to sparse GC activity in vivo. PTP was mainly generated by enlargement of the readily releasable pool of synaptic vesicles, allowing multiplicative interaction with other plasticity forms. PTP was associated with an increase in the docked vesicle pool, suggesting formation of structural “pool engrams.” Absence of presynaptic activity extended the lifetime of the potentiation, enabling prolonged information storage in the hippocampal network.

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Natural activity patterns in hippocampal GCs in vivo induce PTP at mossy fiber synapses

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PTP is primarily caused by an increase in the readily releasable vesicle pool

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PTP is associated with an increase in the number of docked vesicles at active zones

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Sparse activity extends pool engram lifetime, increasing overlap with short-term memory

Microglial regulation of satiety and cognition

Microglia have been known for decades as key immune cells that shape the central nervous system (CNS) during development and respond to brain pathogens and injury in adult life. Recent findings now suggest that these cells also play a highly complex role in several other functions of the CNS. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the established microglial functions in development and disease. We also discuss emerging research suggesting that microglia are important for both cognitive function and the regulation of food intake. With respect to cognitive function, current data suggest microglia are not indispensable for neurogenesis, synaptogenesis or cognition in the healthy young adult, although they crucially modulate and support these functions. In doing so, they are likely important in supporting the balance between apoptosis and survival of newborn neurones and in orchestrating appropriate synaptic remodelling in response to a learning stimulus. We also explore the possibility of a role for microglia in feeding and satiety. Microglia have been implicated in both appetite suppression with sickness and obesity and in promoting feeding under some conditions and we discuss these findings here, highlighting the contribution of these cells to healthy brain function.

Kv4.1, a Key Ion Channel For Low Frequency Firing of Dentate Granule Cells, Is Crucial for Pattern Separation

The dentate gyrus (DG) in the hippocampus may play key roles in remembering distinct episodes through pattern separation, which may be subserved by the sparse firing properties of granule cells (GCs) in the DG. Low intrinsic excitability is characteristic of mature GCs, but ion channel mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we investigated ionic channel mechanisms for firing frequency regulation in hippocampal GCs using male and female mice, and identified Kv4.1 as a key player. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that Kv4.1 was preferentially expressed in the DG, and its expression level determined by Western blot analysis was higher at 8-week than 3-week-old mice, suggesting a developmental regulation of Kv4.1 expression. With respect to firing frequency, GCs are categorized into two distinctive groups: low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) firing GCs. Input resistance (R _in) of most LF-GCs is lower than 200 MΩ, suggesting that LF-GCs are fully mature GCs. Kv4.1 channel inhibition by intracellular perfusion of Kv4.1 antibody increased firing rates and gain of the input-output relationship selectively in LF-GCs with no significant effect on resting membrane potential and R _in, but had no effect in HF-GCs. Importantly, mature GCs from mice depleted of Kv4.1 transcripts in the DG showed increased firing frequency, and these mice showed an impairment in contextual discrimination task. Our findings suggest that Kv4.1 expression occurring at late stage of GC maturation is essential for low excitability of DG networks and thereby contributes to pattern separation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The sparse activity of dentate granule cells (GCs), which is essential for pattern separation, is supported by high inhibitory inputs and low intrinsic excitability of GCs. Low excitability of GCs is thought to be attributable to a high K⁺ conductance at resting membrane potentials, but this study identifies Kv4.1, a depolarization-activated K⁺ channel, as a key ion channel that regulates firing of GCs without affecting resting membrane potentials. Kv4.1 expression is developmentally regulated and Kv4.1 currents are detected only in mature GCs that show low-frequency firing, but not in less mature high-frequency firing GCs. Furthermore, mice depleted of Kv4.1 transcripts in the dentate gyrus show impaired pattern separation, suggesting that Kv4.1 is crucial for sparse coding and pattern separation.

Dentate gyrus circuits for encoding, retrieval and discrimination of episodic memories

The dentate gyrus (DG) has a key role in hippocampal memory formation. Intriguingly, DG lesions impair many, but not all, hippocampus-dependent mnemonic functions, indicating that the rest of the hippocampus (CA1-CA3) can operate autonomously under certain conditions. An extensive body of theoretical work has proposed how the architectural elements and various cell types of the DG may underlie its function in cognition. Recent studies recorded and manipulated the activity of different neuron types in the DG during memory tasks and have provided exciting new insights into the mechanisms of DG computational processes, particularly for the encoding, retrieval and discrimination of similar memories. Here, we review these DG-dependent mnemonic functions in light of the new findings and explore mechanistic links between the cellular and network properties of, and the computations performed by, the DG.

Kainate Receptors, Homeostatic Gatekeepers of Synaptic Plasticity

Extensive research over the past decades has characterized multiple forms of synaptic plasticity, identifying them as key processes that allow the brain to operate in a dynamic manner. Within the wide variety of synaptic plasticity modulators, kainate receptors are receiving increasing attention, given their diversity of signaling mechanisms and cellular expression profile. Here, we summarize the experimental evidence about the involvement of kainate receptor signaling in the regulation of short- and long-term plasticity, from the perspective of the regulation of neurotransmitter release. In light of this evidence, we propose that kainate receptors may be considered homeostatic modulators of neurotransmitter release, able to bidirectionally regulate plasticity depending on the functional history of the synapse.

Contributions of adult neurogenesis to dentate gyrus network activity and computations

Anatomical observations, theoretical work and lesion experiments have led to the idea that an important function of the dentate gyrus of the mammalian hippocampus is pattern separation, a neural computation that ensures new memories are encoded without interference from previously stored memories that share similar features. The dentate gyrus also exhibits a unique form of neural plasticity that results from the continuous integration of newly born excitatory granule cells, termed adult hippocampal neurogenesis. However, the manner in which adult neurogenesis contributes to dentate gyrus network activity and computations is incompletely understood. Here, we first describe the prevailing models for the role of adult neurogenesis in dentate gyrus network function and then re-evaluate these models in the light of recent findings regarding the in vivo activity of the dentate gyrus and synaptic interactions of adult born granule cells with local circuit components, as well as, inputs, and outputs of the dentate gyrus. We propose that adult neurogenesis provides flexibility for the dentate gyrus to rapidly generate a context specific, distributed representation of important sensory stimuli such as spatial cues, which ultimately gives rise to behavioral discrimination.

Interictal epileptiform discharges vary across age groups

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the occurrence and morphology of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) in scalp-EEG change by age.

METHODS

10,547 patients who had a standard or sleep deprived EEG recording reported using the SCORE standard were included. 875 patients had at least one EEG with focal IEDs. Focal IED morphology was analyzed by age using quantitative measures in EEGLAB and by visual classification based on the SCORE standard. We present distributions of IED measures by age group, with medians, interquartiles, 5th and 95th percentiles.

RESULTS

Focal IEDs occurred most frequently in children and elderly. IED morphology and localization depended on age (p < 0.001). IEDs had higher amplitudes, sharper peaks, larger slopes, shorter durations, larger slow-wave areas and wider distributions in children. These morphological characteristics diminished and the IEDs became more lateralized with increasing age. Spike asymmetry was stable across all age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

IEDs have age-dependent characteristics. A spike detector, human or computer, should not operate with the same set of thresholds for patients at various age. With increasing age, focal IEDs are less sharp, have lower amplitudes, have less prominent slow-waves and they become more lateralized. Our findings can help EEG readers in detecting and correctly describing IEDs in patients of various age.

SIGNIFICANCE

EEG readers should always consider patient age when interpreting interictal epileptiform discharges.

The Low-Threshold Calcium Channel Cav3.2 Mediates Burst Firing of Mature Dentate Granule Cells

Mature granule cells are poorly excitable neurons that were recently shown to fire action potentials, preferentially in bursts. It is believed that the particularly pronounced short-term facilitation of mossy fiber synapses makes granule cell bursting a very effective means of properly transferring information to CA3. However, the mechanism underlying the unique bursting behavior of mature granule cells is currently unknown. Here, we show that Cav3.2 T-type channels at the axon initial segment are responsible for burst firing of mature granule cells in rats and mice. Accordingly, Cav3.2 knockout mice fire tonic spikes and exhibit impaired bursting, synaptic plasticity and dentate-to-CA3 communication. The data show that Cav3.2 channels are strong modulators of bursting and can be considered a critical molecular switch that enables effective information transfer from mature granule cells to the CA3 pyramids.

Novelty and Novel Objects Increase c-Fos Immunoreactivity in Mossy Cells in the Mouse Dentate Gyrus

The dentate gyrus (DG) and its primary cell type, the granule cell (GC), are thought to be critical to many cognitive functions. A major neuronal subtype of the DG is the hilar mossy cell (MC). MCs have been considered to play an important role in cognition, but in vivo studies to understand the activity of MCs during cognitive tasks are challenging because the experiments usually involve trauma to the overlying hippocampus or DG, which kills hilar neurons. In addition, restraint typically occurs, and MC activity is reduced by brief restraint stress. Social isolation often occurs and is potentially confounding. Therefore, we used c-fos protein expression to understand when MCs are active in vivo in socially housed adult C57BL/6 mice in their home cage. We focused on c-fos protein expression after animals explored novel objects, based on previous work which showed that MCs express c-fos protein readily in response to a novel housing location. Also, MCs are required for the training component of the novel object location task and novelty-encoding during a food-related task. GluR2/3 was used as a marker of MCs. The results showed that MC c-fos protein is greatly increased after exposure to novel objects, especially in ventral DG. We also found that novel objects produced higher c-fos levels than familiar objects. Interestingly, a small subset of neurons that did not express GluR2/3 also increased c-fos protein after novel object exposure. In contrast, GCs appeared relatively insensitive. The results support a growing appreciation of the role of the DG in novelty detection and novel object recognition, where hilar neurons and especially MCs are very sensitive.

Reliable Sequential Activation of Neural Assemblies by Single Pyramidal Cells in a Three-Layered Cortex

Recent studies reveal the occasional impact of single neurons on surround firing statistics and even simple behaviors. Exploiting the advantages of a simple cortex, we examined the influence of single pyramidal neurons on surrounding cortical circuits. Brief activation of single neurons triggered reliable sequences of firing in tens of other excitatory and inhibitory cortical neurons, reflecting cascading activity through local networks, as indicated by delayed yet precisely timed polysynaptic subthreshold potentials. The evoked patterns were specific to the pyramidal cell of origin, extended over hundreds of micrometers from their source, and unfolded over up to 200 ms. Simultaneous activation of pyramidal cell pairs indicated balanced control of population activity, preventing paroxysmal amplification. Single cortical pyramidal neurons can thus trigger reliable postsynaptic activity that can propagate in a reliable fashion through cortex, generating rapidly evolving and non-random firing sequences reminiscent of those observed in mammalian hippocampus during "replay" and in avian song circuits.

Synaptic properties of newly generated granule cells support sparse coding in the adult hippocampus

In the adult hippocampus new neurons are continuously generated throughout life and integrate into the existing network via the formation of thousands of new synapses. Adult-born granule cells are known to improve learning and memory at about 3-6 weeks post mitosis by enhancing the brains ability to discriminate similar memory items. However, the underlying mechanisms are still controversial. Here we review the distinct functional properties of the newborn young neurons, including enhanced excitability, reduced GABAergic inhibition, NMDA-receptor dependent electrogenesis and enhanced synaptic plasticity. Although these cellular properties provide a competitive advantage for synapse formation, they do not generate 'hyperactivity' of young neurons. By contrast, in vivo evidence from immediate early gene expression and calcium imaging indicates that young neurons show sparse activity during learning. Similarly, in vitro data show a low number of high-impact synapses, leading to activation young cells by distinct subsets of afferent fibers with minimal overlap. Overall, the enhanced excitability of young cells does not generate hyperactivity but rather counterbalance the low number of excitatory input synapses. Finally, sparse coding in young neurons has been shown to be crucial for neurogenesis-dependent improvement of learning behavior. Taken together, converging evidence from cell physiology and behavioral studies suggests a mechanism that can explain the beneficial effects of adult neurogenesis on brain function.

The subthreshold-active KV7 current regulates neurotransmission by limiting spike-induced Ca2+ influx in hippocampal mossy fiber synaptic terminals

Little is known about the properties and function of ion channels that affect synaptic terminal-resting properties. One particular subthreshold-active ion channel, the Kv7 potassium channel, is highly localized to axons, but its role in regulating synaptic terminal intrinsic excitability and release is largely unexplored. Using electrophysiological recordings together with computational modeling, we found that the KV7 current was active at rest in adult hippocampal mossy fiber synaptic terminals and enhanced their membrane conductance. The current also restrained action potential-induced Ca2+ influx via N- and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels in boutons. This was associated with a substantial reduction in the spike half-width and afterdepolarization following presynaptic spikes. Further, by constraining spike-induced Ca2+ influx, the presynaptic KV7 current decreased neurotransmission onto CA3 pyramidal neurons and short-term synaptic plasticity at the mossy fiber-CA3 synapse. This is a distinctive mechanism by which KV7 channels influence hippocampal neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity.

On the occurrence and enigmatic functions of mixed (chemical plus electrical) synapses in the mammalian CNS

Electrical synapses with diverse configurations and functions occur at a variety of interneuronal appositions, thereby significantly expanding the physiological complexity of neuronal circuitry over that provided solely by chemical synapses. Gap junctions between apposed dendritic and somatic plasma membranes form "purely electrical" synapses that allow for electrical communication between coupled neurons. In addition, gap junctions at axon terminals synapsing on dendrites and somata allow for "mixed" (dual chemical+electrical) synaptic transmission. "Dual transmission" was first documented in the autonomic nervous system of birds, followed by its detection in the central nervous systems of fish, amphibia, and reptiles. Subsequently, mixed synapses have been detected in several locations in the mammalian CNS, where their properties and functional roles remain undetermined. Here, we review available evidence for the presence, complex structural composition, and emerging functional properties of mixed synapses in the mammalian CNS.

Intracellular Zn2+ Signaling Facilitates Mossy Fiber Input-Induced Heterosynaptic Potentiation of Direct Cortical Inputs in Hippocampal CA3 Pyramidal Cells

Repetitive action potentials (APs) in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal cells (CA3-PCs) backpropagate to distal apical dendrites, and induce calcium and protein tyrosine kinase (PTK)-dependent downregulation of Kv1.2, resulting in long-term potentiation of direct cortical inputs and intrinsic excitability (LTP-IE). When APs were elicited by direct somatic stimulation of CA3-PCs from rodents of either sex, only a narrow window of distal dendritic [Ca²⁺] allowed LTP-IE because of Ca²⁺-dependent coactivation of PTK and protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP), which renders non-mossy fiber (MF) inputs incompetent in LTP-IE induction. High-frequency MF inputs, however, could induce LTP-IE at high dendritic [Ca²⁺] of the window. We show that MF input-induced Zn²⁺ signaling inhibits postsynaptic PTP, and thus enables MF inputs to induce LTP-IE at a wide range of [Ca²⁺]_i values. Extracellular chelation of Zn²⁺ or genetic deletion of vesicular zinc transporter abrogated the privilege of MF inputs for LTP-IE induction. Moreover, the incompetence of somatic stimulation was rescued by the inhibition of PTP or a supplement of extracellular zinc, indicating that MF input-induced increase in dendritic [Zn²⁺] facilitates the induction of LTP-IE by inhibiting PTP. Consistently, high-frequency MF stimulation induced immediate and delayed elevations of [Zn²⁺] at proximal and distal dendrites, respectively. These results indicate that MF inputs are uniquely linked to the regulation of direct cortical inputs owing to synaptic Zn²⁺ signaling.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Zn²⁺ has been mostly implicated in pathological processes, and the physiological roles of synaptically released Zn²⁺ in intracellular signaling are little known. We show here that Zn²⁺ released from hippocampal mossy fiber (MF) terminals enters postsynaptic CA3 pyramidal cells, and plays a facilitating role in MF input-induced heterosynaptic potentiation of perforant path (PP) synaptic inputs through long-term potentiation of intrinsic excitability (LTP-IE). We show that the window of cytosolic [Ca²⁺] that induces LTP-IE is normally very narrow because of the Ca²⁺-dependent coactivation of antagonistic signaling pairs, whereby non-MF inputs become ineffective in inducing excitability change. The MF-induced Zn²⁺ signaling, however, biases toward facilitating the induction of LTP-IE. The present study elucidates why MF inputs are more privileged for the regulation of PP synapses.

Hippocampal Neurogenesis Reduces the Dimensionality of Sparsely Coded Representations to Enhance Memory Encoding

Adult neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) of mammals is known to contribute to memory encoding in many tasks. The DG also exhibits exceptionally sparse activity compared to other systems, however, whether sparseness and neurogenesis interact during memory encoding remains elusive. We implement a novel learning rule consistent with experimental findings of competition among adult-born neurons in a supervised multilayer feedforward network trained to discriminate between contexts. From this rule, the DG population partitions into neuronal ensembles each of which is biased to represent one of the contexts. This corresponds to a low dimensional representation of the contexts, whereby the fastest dimensionality reduction is achieved in sparse models. We then modify the rule, showing that equivalent representations and performance are achieved when neurons compete for synaptic stability rather than neuronal survival. Our results suggest that competition for stability in sparse models is well-suited to developing ensembles of what may be called memory engram cells.

Transient effect of mossy fiber stimulation on spatial firing of CA3 neurons

Strong hippocampal mossy fiber synapses are thought to function as detonators, imposing "teaching" signals onto CA3 neurons during new memory formation. For an empirical test of this long-standing view, we examined effects of optogenetically stimulating mossy fibers on spatial firing of CA3 neurons in freely-moving mice. We found that spatially restricted mossy fiber stimulation drives novel place-specific firing in some CA3 pyramidal neurons. Such neurons comprise only a minority, however, and many more CA3 neurons showed inhibited spatial firing during mossy fiber stimulation. Also, changes in spatial firing induced by mossy fiber stimulation, both activated and inhibited, reverted immediately upon stimulation termination, leaving CA3 place fields unaltered. Our results do not support the traditional view that mossy fibers impose teaching signals onto CA3 network, and show robustness of established CA3 spatial representations.

Cell-Biological Requirements for the Generation of Dentate Gyrus Granule Neurons

The dentate gyrus (DG) receives highly processed information from the associative cortices functionally integrated in the trisynaptic hippocampal circuit, which contributes to the formation of new episodic memories and the spontaneous exploration of novel environments. Remarkably, the DG is the only brain region currently known to have high rates of neurogenesis in adults (Andersen et al., 1966, 1971). The DG is involved in several neurodegenerative disorders, including clinical dementia, schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder and temporal lobe epilepsy. The principal neurons of the DG are the granule cells. DG granule cells generated in culture would be an ideal model to investigate their normal development and the causes of the pathologies in which they are involved and as well as possible therapies. Essential to establish such in vitro models is the precise definition of the most important cell-biological requirements for the differentiation of DG granule cells. This requires a deeper understanding of the precise molecular and functional attributes of the DG granule cells in vivo as well as the DG cells derived in vitro. In this review we outline the neuroanatomical, molecular and cell-biological components of the granule cell differentiation pathway, including some growth- and transcription factors essential for their development. We summarize the functional characteristics of DG granule neurons, including the electrophysiological features of immature and mature granule cells and the axonal pathfinding characteristics of DG neurons. Additionally, we discuss landmark studies on the generation of dorsal telencephalic precursors from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) as well as DG neuron differentiation in culture. Finally, we provide an outlook and comment critical aspects.

Function of local circuits in the hippocampal dentate gyrus-CA3 system

Anatomical observations, theoretical work and lesioning experiments have supported the idea that the CA3 in the hippocampus is important for encoding, storage and retrieval of memory while the dentate gyrus (DG) is important for the pattern separation of the incoming inputs from the entorhinal cortex. Study of the presumed function of the dentate gyrus in pattern separation has been hampered by the lack of reliable methods to identify different excitatory cell types in the DG. Recent papers have identified different cell types in the DG, in awake behaving animals, with more reliable methods. These studies have revealed each cell type's spatial representation as well as their involvement in pattern separation. Moreover, chronic electrophysiological recording from sleeping and waking animals also provided more insights into the operation of the DG-CA3 system for memory encoding and retrieval. This article will review the local circuit architectures and physiological properties of the DG-CA3 system and discuss how the local circuit in the DG-CA3 may function, incorporating recent physiological findings in the DG-CA3 system.

The storage and recall of memories in the hippocampo-cortical system

A quantitative computational theory of the operation of the hippocampus as an episodic memory system is described. The CA3 system operates as a single attractor or autoassociation network (1) to enable rapid one-trial associations between any spatial location (place in rodents or spatial view in primates) and an object or reward and (2) to provide for completion of the whole memory during recall from any part. The theory is extended to associations between time and object or reward to implement temporal order memory, which is also important in episodic memory. The dentate gyrus performs pattern separation by competitive learning to create sparse representations producing, for example, neurons with place-like fields from entorhinal cortex grid cells. The dentate granule cells generate, by the very small number of mossy fibre connections to CA3, a randomizing pattern separation effect that is important during learning but not recall and that separates out the patterns represented by CA3 firing as being very different from each other. This is optimal for an unstructured episodic memory system in which each memory must be kept distinct from other memories. The direct perforant path input to CA3 is quantitatively appropriate for providing the cue for recall in CA3 but not for learning. The CA1 recodes information from CA3 to set up associatively learned backprojections to the neocortex to allow the subsequent retrieval of information to the neocortex, giving a quantitative account of the large number of hippocampo-neocortical and neocortical-neocortical backprojections. Tests of the theory including hippocampal subregion analyses and hippocampal NMDA receptor knockouts are described and support the theory.

Physiological signature of a novel potentiator of AMPA receptor signalling

We have synthesized a novel small molecule based on the pyrrolidinone–containing core structure of clausenamide, which is a candidate anti–dementia drug. The synthetic route yielded multi–gram quantities of an isomeric racemate mixture in a short number of steps. When tested in hippocampal slices from young adult rats the compound enhanced AMPA receptor–mediated signalling at mossy fibre synapses, and potentiated inward currents evoked by local application of l–glutamate onto CA3 pyramidal neurons. It facilitated the induction of mossy fibre LTP, but the magnitude of potentiation was smaller than that observed in untreated slices. The racemic mixture was separated and it was shown that only the (−) enantiomer was active. Toxicity analysis indicated that cell lines tolerated the compound at concentrations well above those enhancing synaptic transmission. Our results unveil a small molecule whose physiological signature resembles that of a potent nootropic drug.

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A small molecule was developed using a novel approach towards the synthesis of clausenamide, which is thought to have anti–dementia properties.

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When tested in hippocampal slices the compound enhanced AMPA receptor signalling as well as glutamate–evoked currents in CA3 pyramidal neurons.

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It facilitated the induction of mossy fibre LTP.

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Cytotoxicity experiments revealed no deleterious effect to cells at sub–millimolar concentrations.

Plasticity and redundancy in the integration of adult born neurons in the hippocampus

Hippocampal neurogenesis (HN) is an extreme form of plasticity that inevitably rewires the hippocampal circuit and this rewiring was put forward as a possible mechanism for neurogenesis' behavioral effects. Here, I critically evaluate multiple lines of evidence to argue that structural plasticity induced by HN is, to a large extent, functionally redundant and thus has limited impact on behavior. The associative plasticity rules along with properties of immature neurons should only allow the survival of new neurons whose pre and postsynaptic partners have correlated activity, leading to functional redundancy. Moreover, non-redundant rewiring, even with its computational benefits, would impair meaningful communication between the hippocampus and other brain regions. This implies that associative plasticity rules constrain structural plasticity induced by neurogenesis, allowing the brain to balance plasticity and stability to maintain proper functioning. It also implies that behavioral effects of HN are mediated by other mechanisms apart from circuit rewiring.

Action potential counting at giant mossy fiber terminals gates information transfer in the hippocampus

Neurons fire action potentials to transfer information through synaptic release of neurotransmitter. At presynaptic terminals, the pattern of action potential discharge is integrated through dynamic Ca²⁺ signaling by the presynaptic machinery which triggers the release of neurotransmitter. It is generally accepted that the rate and the temporal precision of action potential firing support information transfer between neurons. Here, we show that in contrast to rate and temporal coding, giant mossy fiber terminals count the number of action potentials during trains to trigger CA3 pyramidal cell firing. Our results shed light on the synaptic signal transfer mechanisms supporting an additional information coding strategy in the brain.

Neuronal communication relies on action potential discharge, with the frequency and the temporal precision of action potentials encoding information. Hippocampal mossy fibers have long been recognized as conditional detonators owing to prominent short-term facilitation of glutamate release displayed during granule cell burst firing. However, the spiking patterns required to trigger action potential firing in CA3 pyramidal neurons remain poorly understood. Here, we show that glutamate release from mossy fiber terminals triggers action potential firing of the target CA3 pyramidal neurons independently of the average granule cell burst frequency, a phenomenon we term action potential counting. We find that action potential counting in mossy fibers gates glutamate release over a broad physiological range of frequencies and action potential numbers. Using rapid Ca²⁺ imaging we also show that the magnitude of evoked Ca²⁺ influx stays constant during action potential trains and that accumulated residual Ca²⁺ is gradually extruded on a time scale of several hundred milliseconds. Using experimentally constrained 3D model of presynaptic Ca²⁺ influx, buffering, and diffusion, and a Monte Carlo model of Ca²⁺-activated vesicle fusion, we argue that action potential counting at mossy fiber boutons can be explained by a unique interplay between Ca²⁺ dynamics and buffering at release sites. This is largely determined by the differential contribution of major endogenous Ca²⁺ buffers calbindin-D_28K and calmodulin and by the loose coupling between presynaptic voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels and release sensors and the relatively slow Ca²⁺ extrusion rate. Taken together, our results identify a previously unexplored information-coding mechanism in the brain.

A novel pyramidal cell type promotes sharp-wave synchronization in the hippocampus

To support cognitive function, the CA3 region of the hippocampus performs computations involving attractor dynamics. Understanding how cellular and ensemble activities of CA3 neurons enable computation is critical for elucidating the neural correlates of cognition. Here we show that CA3 comprises not only classically described pyramid cells with thorny excrescences, but also includes previously unidentified 'athorny' pyramid cells that lack mossy-fiber input. Moreover, the two neuron types have distinct morphological and physiological phenotypes and are differentially modulated by acetylcholine. To understand the contribution of these athorny pyramid neurons to circuit function, we measured cell-type-specific firing patterns during sharp-wave synchronization events in vivo and recapitulated these dynamics with an attractor network model comprising two principal cell types. Our data and simulations reveal a key role for athorny cell bursting in the initiation of sharp waves: transient network attractor states that signify the execution of pattern completion computations vital to cognitive function.

Synchronous high-frequency oscillations in inhibitory-dominant network motifs consisting of three dentate gyrus-CA3 systems

Studies on the structural-functional connectomes of the human brain have demonstrated the existence of synchronous firings in a specific brain network motif. In particular, synchronization of high-frequency oscillations (HFOs) has been observed in the experimental data sets of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). In addition, both clinical and experimental evidences have accumulated to demonstrate the effect of electrical stimulation on TLE, which, however, remains largely unexplored. In this work, we first employ our previously proposed dentate gyrus (DG)-CA3 network model to investigate the influence of an external electrical stimulus on the HFO transitions. The results indicate that the reinforcing stimulus can induce the HFO transitions of the DG-CA3 system from the gamma band to the fast ripples band. Along with that, the consistent oscillations of neurons within DG-CA3 can also be enhanced with the increasing of stimulus. Then, we expand into a simple motif of three coupled DG-CA3 systems in both the feedforward inhibition and feedback inhibition connections, to investigate the synchronous evolutions of HFOs by regulating both the stimulation strength and inhibitory function. It is shown that the comprehensive effects, which lead to band transition, are independent of the motif configurations. The enhanced external electrical stimulus weakens the synchronism and correlation of connected motifs. In contrast, we demonstrate that the increased inhibitory coupling could facilitate correlation to some extent. Overall, our work highlights the possible origin of synchronous HFOs of hippocampal motifs governed by external inputs and inhibitory connection, which might contribute to a better understanding of the interplay between synchronization dynamics and epileptic structure in the human brain.

Diminished Dentate Gyrus Filtering of Cortical Input Leads to Enhanced Area Ca3 Excitability after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) disrupts hippocampal function and can lead to long-lasting episodic memory impairments. The encoding of episodic memories relies on spatial information processing within the hippocampus. As the primary entry point for spatial information into the hippocampus, the dentate gyrus is thought to function as a physiological gate, or filter, of afferent excitation before reaching downstream area Cornu Ammonis (CA3). Although injury has previously been shown to alter dentate gyrus network excitability, it is unknown whether mTBI affects dentate gyrus output to area CA3. In this study, we assessed hippocampal function, specifically the interaction between the dentate gyrus and CA3, using behavioral and electrophysiological techniques in ex vivo brain slices 1 week following mild lateral fluid percussion injury (LFPI). Behaviorally, LFPI mice were found to be impaired in an object-place recognition task, indicating that spatial information processing in the hippocampus is disrupted. Extracellular recordings and voltage-sensitive dye imaging demonstrated that perforant path activation leads to the aberrant spread of excitation from the dentate gyrus into area CA3 along the mossy fiber pathway. These results suggest that after mTBI, the dentate gyrus has a diminished capacity to regulate cortical input into the hippocampus, leading to increased CA3 network excitability. The loss of the dentate filtering efficacy reveals a potential mechanism by which hippocampal-dependent spatial information processing is disrupted, and may contribute to memory dysfunction after mTBI.

Interspike interval analysis and spikelets in presubicular head-direction cells

Head-direction (HD) neurons are thought to provide the mammalian brain with an internal sense of direction. These cells, which selectively increase their firing when the animal's head points in a specific direction, use the spike rate to encode HD with a high signal-to-noise ratio. In the present work, we analyzed spike train features of presubicular HD cells recorded juxtacellularly in passively rotated rats. We found that HD neurons could be classified into two groups on the basis of their propensity to fire spikes at short interspike intervals. "Bursty" neurons displayed distinct spike waveforms and were weakly but significantly more modulated by HD compared with "nonbursty" cells. In a subset of HD neurons, we observed the occurrence of spikelets, small-amplitude "spike-like" events, whose HD tuning was highly correlated to that of the co-recorded juxtacellular spikes. Bursty and nonbursty HD cells, as well as spikelets, were also observed in freely moving animals during natural behavior. We speculate that spike bursts and spikelets might contribute to presubicular HD coding by enhancing its accuracy and transmission reliability to downstream targets. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We provide evidence that presubicular head-direction (HD) cells can be classified into two classes (bursty and nonbursty) on the basis of their propensity to fire spikes at short interspike intervals. Bursty cells displayed distinct electrophysiological properties and stronger directional tuning compared with nonbursty neurons. We also provide evidence for the occurrence of spikelets in a subset of HD cells. These electrophysiological features (spike bursts and spikelets) might contribute to the precision and robustness of the presubicular HD code.

Non-canonical Mechanisms of Presynaptic Kainate Receptors Controlling Glutamate Release

A metabotropic modus operandi for kainate receptors (KARs) was first discovered in 1998 modulating GABA release. These receptors have been also found to modulate glutamate release at different synapses in several brain regions. Mechanistically, a general biphasic mechanism for modulating glutamate release by presynaptic KARs with metabotropic actions has emerged, with low KA concentrations invoking an increase in glutamate release, whereas higher concentrations of KA mediate a decrease in the release of this neurotransmitter. The molecular mechanisms underpinning the opposite modulation of glutamate release are distinct, with a G-protein-independent, adenylate cyclase (AC)- and protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent mechanism mediating the facilitation of glutamate release, while a G-protein dependent mechanism (with or without protein kinase recruitment) is involved in the decrease of neurotransmitter release. In the present review, we revisit the mechanisms underlying the non-canonical modus operandi of KARs effecting the bimodal control of glutamatergic transmission in different brain regions, and address the possible functions that this modulation may support.

Stability and Function of Hippocampal Mossy Fiber Synapses Depend on Bcl11b/Ctip2

Structural and functional plasticity of synapses are critical neuronal mechanisms underlying learning and memory. While activity-dependent regulation of synaptic strength has been extensively studied, much less is known about the transcriptional control of synapse maintenance and plasticity. Hippocampal mossy fiber (MF) synapses connect dentate granule cells to CA3 pyramidal neurons and are important for spatial memory formation and consolidation. The transcription factor Bcl11b/Ctip2 is expressed in dentate granule cells and required for postnatal hippocampal development. Ablation of Bcl11b/Ctip2 in the adult hippocampus results in impaired adult neurogenesis and spatial memory. The molecular mechanisms underlying the behavioral impairment remained unclear. Here we show that selective deletion of Bcl11b/Ctip2 in the adult mouse hippocampus leads to a rapid loss of excitatory synapses in CA3 as well as reduced ultrastructural complexity of remaining mossy fiber boutons (MFBs). Moreover, a dramatic decline of long-term potentiation (LTP) of the dentate gyrus-CA3 (DG-CA3) projection is caused by adult loss of Bcl11b/Ctip2. Differential transcriptomics revealed the deregulation of genes associated with synaptic transmission in mutants. Together, our data suggest Bcl11b/Ctip2 to regulate maintenance and function of MF synapses in the adult hippocampus.

Npas4 Is a Critical Regulator of Learning-Induced Plasticity at Mossy Fiber-CA3 Synapses during Contextual Memory Formation

Synaptic connections between hippocampal mossy fibers (MFs) and CA3 pyramidal neurons are essential for contextual memory encoding, but the molecular mechanisms regulating MF-CA3 synapses during memory formation and the exact nature of this regulation are poorly understood. Here we report that the activity-dependent transcription factor Npas4 selectively regulates the structure and strength of MF-CA3 synapses by restricting the number of their functional synaptic contacts without affecting the other synaptic inputs onto CA3 pyramidal neurons. Using an activity-dependent reporter, we identified CA3 pyramidal cells that were activated by contextual learning and found that MF inputs on these cells were selectively strengthened. Deletion of Npas4 prevented both contextual memory formation and this learning-induced synaptic modification. We further show that Npas4 regulates MF-CA3 synapses by controlling the expression of the polo-like kinase Plk2. Thus, Npas4 is a critical regulator of experience-dependent, structural, and functional plasticity at MF-CA3 synapses during contextual memory formation.

Spontaneous Infraslow Fluctuations Modulate Hippocampal EPSP-PS Coupling

Extensive trial-to-trial variability is a hallmark of most behavioral, cognitive, and physiological processes. Spontaneous brain activity (SBA), a ubiquitous phenomenon that coordinates levels and patterns of neuronal activity throughout the brain, may contribute to this variability by dynamically altering neuronal excitability. In freely-behaving male rats, we observed extensive variability of the hippocampal evoked response across 28-min recording periods despite maintaining constant stimulation parameters of the medial perforant path. This variability was related to antecedent SBA: increases in low-frequency (0.5–9 Hz) and high-frequency (40.25–100 Hz) band-limited power (BLP) in the 4-s preceding stimulation were associated with decreased slope of the field EPSP (fEPSP) and increased population spike (PS) amplitude. These fluctuations in SBA and evoked response magnitude did not appear stochastic but rather exhibited coordinated activity across infraslow timescales (0.005–0.02 Hz). Specifically, infraslow fluctuations in high- and low-frequency BLP were antiphase with changes in fEPSP slope and in phase with changes in PS amplitude. With these divergent effects on the fEPSP and PS, infraslow SBA ultimately modulates EPSP-PS coupling and thereby enables hippocampal circuitry to generate heterogeneous outputs from identical inputs. Consequently, infraslow SBA appears well suited to dynamically alter sensory selection and information processing and highlights the fundamental role of endogenous neuronal activity for shaping the brain’s response to incoming stimuli.

Single Bursts of Individual Granule Cells Functionally Rearrange Feedforward Inhibition

The sparse single-spike activity of dentate gyrus granule cells (DG GCs) is punctuated by occasional brief bursts of 3–7 action potentials. It is well-known that such presynaptic bursts in individual mossy fibers (MFs; axons of granule cells) are often able to discharge postsynaptic CA3 pyramidal cells due to powerful short-term facilitation. However, what happens in the CA3 network after the passage of a brief MF burst, before the arrival of the next burst or solitary spike, is not understood. Because MFs innervate significantly more CA3 interneurons than pyramidal cells, we focused on unitary MF responses in identified interneurons in the seconds-long postburst period, using paired recordings in rat hippocampal slices. Single bursts as short as 5 spikes in <30 ms in individual presynaptic MFs caused a sustained, large increase (tripling) in the amplitude of the unitary MF-EPSCs for several seconds in ivy, axo-axonic/chandelier and basket interneurons. The postburst unitary MF-EPSCs in these feedforward interneurons reached amplitudes that were even larger than the MF-EPSCs during the bursts in the same cells. In contrast, no comparable postburst enhancement of MF-EPSCs could be observed in pyramidal cells or nonfeedforward interneurons. The robust postburst increase in MF-EPSCs in feedforward interneurons was associated with significant shortening of the unitary synaptic delay and large downstream increases in disynaptic IPSCs in pyramidal cells. These results reveal a new cell type-specific plasticity that enables even solitary brief bursts in single GCs to powerfully enhance inhibition at the DG-CA3 interface in the seconds-long time-scales of interburst intervals.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The hippocampal formation is a brain region that plays key roles in spatial navigation and learning and memory. The first stage of information processing occurs in the dentate gyrus, where principal cells are remarkably quiet, discharging low-frequency single action potentials interspersed with occasional brief bursts of spikes. Such bursts, in particular, have attracted a lot of attention because they appear to be critical for efficient coding, storage, and recall of information. We show that single bursts of a few spikes in individual granule cells result in seconds-long potentiation of excitatory inputs to downstream interneurons. Thus, while it has been known that bursts powerfully discharge (“detonate”) hippocampal excitatory cells, this study clarifies that they also regulate inhibition during the interburst intervals.

Chronic Alcohol, Intrinsic Excitability, and Potassium Channels: Neuroadaptations and Drinking Behavior

Neural mechanisms underlying alcohol use disorder remain elusive, and this lack of understanding has slowed the development of efficacious treatment strategies for reducing relapse rates and prolonging abstinence. While synaptic adaptations produced by chronic alcohol exposure have been extensively characterized in a variety of brain regions, changes in intrinsic excitability of critical projection neurons are understudied. Accumulating evidence suggests that prolonged alcohol drinking and alcohol dependence produce plasticity of intrinsic excitability as measured by changes in evoked action potential firing and after-hyperpolarization amplitude. In this chapter, we describe functional changes in cell firing of projection neurons after long-term alcohol exposure that occur across species and in multiple brain regions. Adaptations in calcium-activated (K_Ca2), voltage-dependent (K_V7), and G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying (K_ir3 or GIRK) potassium channels that regulate the evoked firing and after-hyperpolarization parallel functional changes in intrinsic excitability induced by chronic alcohol. Moreover, there are strong genetic links between alcohol-related behaviors and genes encoding K_Ca2, K_V7, and GIRK channels, and pharmacologically targeting these channels reduces alcohol consumption and alcohol-related behaviors. Together, these studies demonstrate that chronic alcohol drinking produces adaptations in K_Ca2, K_V7, and GIRK channels leading to impaired regulation of the after-hyperpolarization and aberrant cell firing. Correcting the deficit in the after-hyperpolarization with positive modulators of K_Ca2 and K_V7 channels and altering the GIRK channel binding pocket to block the access of alcohol represent a potentially highly effective pharmacological approach that can restore changes in intrinsic excitability and reduce alcohol consumption in affected individuals.

Excitatory Synaptic Input to Hilar Mossy Cells under Basal and Hyperexcitable Conditions

Hilar mossy cells (HMCs) in the hippocampus receive glutamatergic input from dentate granule cells (DGCs) via mossy fibers (MFs) and back-projections from CA3 pyramidal neuron collateral axons. Many fundamental features of these excitatory synapses have not been characterized in detail despite their potential relevance to hippocampal cognitive processing and epilepsy-induced adaptations in circuit excitability. In this study, we compared pre- and postsynaptic parameters between MF and CA3 inputs to HMCs in young and adult mice of either sex and determined the relative contributions of the respective excitatory inputs during in vitro and in vivo models of hippocampal hyperexcitability. The two types of excitatory synapses both exhibited a modest degree of short-term plasticity, with MF inputs to HMCs exhibiting lower paired-pulse (PP) and frequency facilitation than was described previously for MF–CA3 pyramidal cell synapses. MF–HMC synapses exhibited unitary excitatory synaptic currents (EPSCs) of larger amplitude, contained postsynaptic kainate receptors, and had a lower NMDA/AMPA receptor ratio compared to CA3–HMC synapses. Pharmacological induction of hippocampal hyperexcitability in vitro transformed the abundant but relatively weak CA3–HMC connections to very large amplitude spontaneous bursts of compound EPSCs (cEPSCs) in young mice (∼P20) and, to a lesser degree, in adult mice (∼P70). CA3–HMC cEPSCs were also observed in slices prepared from mice with spontaneous seizures several weeks after intrahippocampal kainate injection. Strong excitation of HMCs during synchronous CA3 activity represents an avenue of significant excitatory network generation back to DGCs and might be important in generating epileptic networks.

Pyramidal Cell-Interneuron Circuit Architecture and Dynamics in Hippocampal Networks

Excitatory control of inhibitory neurons is poorly understood due to the difficulty of studying synaptic connectivity in vivo. We inferred such connectivity through analysis of spike timing and validated this inference using juxtacellular and optogenetic control of presynaptic spikes in behaving mice. We observed that neighboring CA1 neurons had stronger connections and that superficial pyramidal cells projected more to deep interneurons. Connection probability and strength were skewed, with a minority of highly connected hubs. Divergent presynaptic connections led to synchrony between interneurons. Synchrony of convergent presynaptic inputs boosted postsynaptic drive. Presynaptic firing frequency was read out by postsynaptic neurons through short-term depression and facilitation, with individual pyramidal cells and interneurons displaying a diversity of spike transmission filters. Additionally, spike transmission was strongly modulated by prior spike timing of the postsynaptic cell. These results bridge anatomical structure with physiological function.

Loss of protohaem IX farnesyltransferase in mature dentate granule cells impairs short-term facilitation at mossy fibre to CA3 pyramidal cell synapses

KEY POINTS

Neurodegenerative disorders can exhibit dysfunctional mitochondrial respiratory chain complex IV activity. Conditional deletion of cytochrome c oxidase, the terminal enzyme in the respiratory electron transport chain of mitochondria, from hippocampal dentate granule cells in mice does not affect low-frequency dentate to CA3 glutamatergic synaptic transmission. High-frequency dentate to CA3 glutamatergic synaptic transmission and feedforward inhibition are significantly attenuated in cytochrome c oxidase-deficient mice. Intact presynaptic mitochondrial function is critical for the short-term dynamics of mossy fibre to CA3 synaptic function.

ABSTRACT

Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by peripheral and central symptoms including cognitive impairments which have been associated with reduced mitochondrial function, in particular mitochondrial respiratory chain complex IV or cytochrome c oxidase activity. In the present study we conditionally removed a key component of complex IV, protohaem IX farnesyltransferase encoded by the COX10 gene, in granule cells of the adult dentate gyrus. Utilizing whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from morphologically identified CA3 pyramidal cells from control and complex IV-deficient mice, we found that reduced mitochondrial function did not result in overt deficits in basal glutamatergic synaptic transmission at the mossy-fibre synapse because the amplitude, input-output relationship and 50 ms paired-pulse facilitation were unchanged following COX10 removal from dentate granule cells. However, trains of stimuli given at high frequency (> 20 Hz) resulted in dramatic reductions in short-term facilitation and, at the highest frequencies (> 50 Hz), also reduced paired-pulse facilitation, suggesting a requirement for adequate mitochondrial function to maintain glutamate release during physiologically relevant activity patterns. Interestingly, local inhibition was reduced, suggesting the effect observed was not restricted to synapses with CA3 pyramidal cells via large mossy-fibre boutons, but rather to all synapses formed by dentate granule cells. Therefore, presynaptic mitochondrial function is critical for the short-term dynamics of synapse function, which may contribute to the cognitive deficits observed in pathological mitochondrial dysfunction.

An integrative model of the intrinsic hippocampal theta rhythm

Hippocampal theta oscillations (4–12 Hz) are consistently recorded during memory tasks and spatial navigation. Despite several known circuits and structures that generate hippocampal theta locally in vitro, none of them were found to be critical in vivo, and the hippocampal theta rhythm is severely attenuated by disruption of external input from medial septum or entorhinal cortex. We investigated these discrepancies that question the sufficiency and robustness of hippocampal theta generation using a biophysical spiking network model of the CA3 region of the hippocampus that included an interconnected network of pyramidal cells, inhibitory basket cells (BC) and oriens-lacunosum moleculare (OLM) cells. The model was developed by matching biological data characterizing neuronal firing patterns, synaptic dynamics, short-term synaptic plasticity, neuromodulatory inputs, and the three-dimensional organization of the hippocampus. The model generated theta power robustly through five cooperating generators: spiking oscillations of pyramidal cells, recurrent connections between them, slow-firing interneurons and pyramidal cells subnetwork, the fast-spiking interneurons and pyramidal cells subnetwork, and non-rhythmic structured external input from entorhinal cortex to CA3. We used the modeling framework to quantify the relative contributions of each of these generators to theta power, across different cholinergic states. The largest contribution to theta power was that of the divergent input from the entorhinal cortex to CA3, despite being constrained to random Poisson activity. We found that the low cholinergic states engaged the recurrent connections in generating theta activity, whereas high cholinergic states utilized the OLM-pyramidal subnetwork. These findings revealed that theta might be generated differently across cholinergic states, and demonstrated a direct link between specific theta generators and neuromodulatory states.

Control of Spike Transfer at Hippocampal Mossy Fiber Synapses In Vivo by GABAA and GABAB Receptor-Mediated Inhibition

Despite extensive studies in hippocampal slices and incentive from computational theories, the synaptic mechanisms underlying information transfer at mossy fiber (mf) connections between the dentate gyrus (DG) and CA3 neurons in vivo are still elusive. Here we used an optogenetic approach in mice to selectively target and control the activity of DG granule cells (GCs) while performing whole-cell and juxtacellular recordings of CA3 neurons in vivo In CA3 pyramidal cells (PCs), mf-CA3 synaptic responses consisted predominantly of an IPSP at low stimulation frequency (0.05 Hz). Upon increasing the frequency of stimulation, a biphasic response was observed consisting of a brief mf EPSP followed by an inhibitory response lasting on the order of 100 ms. Spike transfer at DG-CA3 interneurons recorded in the juxtacellular mode was efficient at low presynaptic stimulation frequency and appeared insensitive to an increased frequency of GC activity. Overall, this resulted in a robust and slow feedforward inhibition of spike transfer at mf-CA3 pyramidal cell synapses. Short-term plasticity of EPSPs with increasing frequency of presynaptic activity allowed inhibition to be overcome to reach spike discharge in CA3 PCs. Whereas the activation of GABA_A receptors was responsible for the direct inhibition of light-evoked spike responses, the slow inhibition of spiking activity required the activation of GABA_B receptors in CA3 PCs. The slow inhibitory response defined an optimum frequency of presynaptic activity for spike transfer at ∼10 Hz. Altogether these properties define the temporal rules for efficient information transfer at DG-CA3 synaptic connections in the intact circuit.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Activity-dependent changes in synaptic strength constitute a basic mechanism for memory. Synapses from the dentate gyrus (DG) to the CA3 area of the hippocampus are distinctive for their prominent short-term plasticity, as studied in slices. Plasticity of DG-CA3 connections may assist in the encoding of precise memory in the CA3 network. Here we characterize DG-CA3 synaptic transmission in vivo using targeted optogenetic activation of DG granule cells while recording in whole-cell patch-clamp and juxtacellular configuration from CA3 pyramidal cells and interneurons. We show that, in vivo, short-term plasticity of excitatory inputs to CA3 pyramidal cells combines with robust feedforward inhibition mediated by both GABA_A and GABA_B receptors to control the efficacy and temporal rules for information transfer at DG-CA3 connections.

On the 'data stirring' role of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus

Understanding hippocampal (HC) function, as it is presently known, includes exploring the HC role in episodic memory storage. As pointed out by Teyler and DiScenna in the 1980s, the apparatus needed for recalling a stored episode, and awakening all its components in a coordinated manner, by necessity includes a triggering device able to reach each of the mental entities that must be awakened. In the context of neuronal networks, the triggering device in question takes the form of a large cell assembly, a separate one made for every new episode stored. The present paper deals with the creation and the properties of these cell assemblies ('pointer groups'). To perform the function of episodic memory retrieval, each of these must possess the information capacity (entropy) enabling it to single out an episode and the network connections enabling it to reach all components of it; further, to deal with the unpredictability of the memory items it has to address, it must have its member neurons well distributed through the length of the network (the HC). The requirements imply that the creation of a pointer group must include a randomizing step analogous to 'stirring'. It is argued that many of the known peculiarities of granule cells in the dentate gyrus arise as solutions to the practical problems presented by the creation of the pointer groups and the details of 'stirring', and so do a series of other features of the HC network, some of them only discovered in the last few years.

Feedforward inhibition is randomly wired from individual granule cells onto CA3 pyramidal cells

Feedforward inhibition (FFI) between the dentate gyrus (DG) and CA3 sparsifies and shapes memory‐ and spatial navigation‐related activities. However, our understanding of this prototypical FFI circuit lacks essential details, as the wiring of FFI is not yet mapped between individual DG granule cells (GCs) and CA3 pyramidal cells (PCs). Importantly, theoretically opposite network contributions are possible depending on whether the directly excited PCs are differently inhibited than the non‐excited PCs. Therefore, to better understand FFI wiring schemes, we compared the prevalence of disynaptic inhibitory postsynaptic events (diIPSCs) between pairs of individually recorded GC axons or somas and PCs, some of which were connected by monosynaptic excitation, while others were not. If FFI wiring is specific, diIPSCs are expected only in connected PCs; whereas diIPSCs should not be present in these PCs if FFI is laterally wired from individual GCs. However, we found single GC‐elicited diIPSCs with similar probabilities irrespective of the presence of monosynaptic excitation. This observation suggests that the wiring of FFI between individual GCs and PCs is independent of the direct excitation. Therefore, the randomly distributed FFI contributes to the hippocampal signal sparsification by setting the general excitability of the CA3 depending on the overall activity of GCs.