Synaptic connections of dentate granule cells and hilar neurons: results of paired intracellular recordings and intracellular horseradish peroxidase injections

Quantifying the role of inhibition in associative long-term potentiation in dentate granule cells with computational models

In the dentate gyrus, coactivation of a mildly strong ipsilateral perforant path (pp) input with a weak contralateral pp input will not induce associative long-term potentiation in the weak input path unless both inputs project to the same part of the molecular layer. This "spatial convergence requirement" is thought to arise from either voltage attenuation between input locations or inhibition. Simulations with a detailed model of a dentate granule cell were performed to rule out voltage attenuation and to quantify the inhibition necessary to obtain the spatial convergence requirement. Strong lateral and weak medial or strong medial and weak lateral pp input were activated eight times at 400 Hz. Calcium current through N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor channels and subsequent changes in calcium concentration and the concentration of calmodulin bound with four calcium ions ([Cal-Ca4]) in the spine head were computed for a medial and a lateral pp synapse. To satisfy the spatial convergence requirement, peak [Cal-Ca4] had to be much larger in the strongly activated path synapse than in the weakly activated path synapse. With no inhibition in the model, differences in peak [Cal-Cal4] at the two synapses were small, ruling out voltage attenuation as the explanation of the spatial convergence requirement. However, with shunting inhibition, modeled by reducing membrane resistivity to 1,600 omega cm2 in the distal two-thirds of the dendritic tree, peak [Cal-Ca4] was 3-5 times larger in the strongly activated path synapse than in the weakly activated path synapse. The magnitude of shunting inhibition was varied to determine the level that maximized this difference in peak [Cal-Ca4]. For strong lateral and weak medial pp input, the optimal level was one that prevented the cell from firing an action potential. For strong medial and weak lateral pp input, the optimal level was one at which the cell fired two action potentials. The distribution of shunting inhibition that best satisfied the spatial convergence requirement was inhibition on the distal two-thirds of the dendritic tree with or without inhibition at the soma, with inhibition stronger in the distal third than in the middle third. It was estimated that the number of inhibitory synapses involved in the shunting inhibition should be 25-50% of the number of excitatory synapses activated by the eight-pulse, 400-Hz tetanus. This number could be 20-50% of the total number of inhibitory synapses in the distal two-thirds of the dendritic tree. The addition of a single inhibitory synapse on a dendrite had a significant effect on peak spine head [Cal-Ca4] in nearby spines. Inhibitory synapses had to be activated four or more times at 100 Hz for effective shunting to take place, and the inhibition had to begin no later than 2-5 ms after the first excitatory input. The results suggest that inhibition can isolate potentiated synapses to particular dendritic domains and that the location of activated inhibitory synapses may affect potentiation of individual synapses on individual dendrites.

Regulation of excitatory input to inhibitory interneurons of the dentate gyrus during hypoxia

The role of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) and adenosine receptors in hypoxia-induced suppression of excitatory synaptic input to interneurons residing at the granule cell-hilus border in the dentate gyrus was investigated with the use of whole cell electrophysiological recording techniques in thin (250 microns) slices of immature rat hippocampus. Minimal stimulation evoked glutamatergic excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in dentate interneurons in 68 +/- 4% (mean +/- SE) of trials during stimulation in the dentate granule cell layer (GCL) and 48 +/- 3% of trials during stimulation in CA3. Hypoxic episodes, produced by switching the perfusing solution from 95% O2-5% CO2 to a solution containing 95% N2-5% CO2 for 3-5 min, rapidly and reversibly decreased the synaptic reliability, or probability of evoking an EPSC, from either input without reducing EPSC amplitude, consistent with a presynaptic suppression of transmitter release. The mGluR antagonist (+)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine [(+) MCPG; 500 microM] did not alter synaptic reliability or mean EPSC amplitude in either pathway. However, (+) MCPG significantly attenuated hypoxic suppression of input from both pathways, suggesting that mGluRs activated by release of glutamate partially mediate hypoxic suppression of EPSCs to dentate interneurons. The mGluR agonist (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (ACPD; 100 microM) rapidly decreased the reliability of excitatory transmission from both the GCL (19 +/- 5% of control) and CA3 (39 +/- 15% of control). ACPD also increased the frequency of spontaneous EPSCs and evoked a slow inward current in dentate interneurons. Exogenous adenosine (10-300 microM) decreased synaptic reliability for both pathways and reduced the frequency of spontaneous EPSCs, but did not cause a decrease in the mean amplitude of evoked EPSCs, consistent with a presynaptic suppression of excitatory input to dentate interneurons. Conversely, the selective adenosine A1 receptor antagonists 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (200 nM to 1 microM) and N6-cyclopentyl-9-methyladenine (1 microM) enhanced excitatory input to dentate interneurons by increasing synaptic reliability for both the GCL and CA3 inputs. Adenosine A1 receptor antagonists did not, however, reduce hypoxic suppression of excitatory input to dentate interneurons. These results indicate that hypoxia induces a presynaptic inhibition of excitatory input to dentate interneurons mediated in part by activation of mGluRs, but not adenosine A1 receptors, whereas both mGluRs and adenosine A1 receptors can depress excitatory input to dentate interneurons during normoxic stimulation. Regulation of excitatory input to dentate interneurons provides a mechanism to shape excitatory input to the hippocampus under both normal and pathological conditions.

Sensory gating in a computer model of the CA3 neural network of the hippocampus

We have developed a unique computer model of the CA3 region of the hippocampus that simulates the P50 auditory evoked potential response to repeated stimuli in order to study the neuronal circuits involved in a sensory processing deficit associated with schizophrenia. Our computer model of the CA3 hippocampal network includes recurrent activation from within the CA3 region as well as input from the entorhinal cortex and the medial septal nucleus. We used the model to help us determine if the cortical and septal inputs to the CA3 hippocampus alone are responsible for the gating of auditory evoked activity, or if the strong recurrent activity within the CA3 region contributes to this phenomenon. The model suggests that the medial septal input is critical for normal gating; however, to a large extent the activity of the medial septal input can be replaced by simulated stimulation of the hippocampal neurons by a nicotinic agonist. The model is thus consistent with experimental data that show that nicotine restores gating of the N40 evoked potential in fimbria-fornix lesioned rats and of the P50 evoked potential in schizophrenic patients.

Kainic acid-induced seizures enhance dentate gyrus inhibition by downregulation of GABA(B) receptors

Seizures cause a persistent enhancement in dentate synaptic inhibition concurrent with, and possibly compensatory for, seizure-induced hippocampal hyperexcitability. To study this phenomenon, we evoked status epilepticus in rats with systemic kainic acid (KA), and 2 weeks later assessed granule cell inhibition with paired-pulse stimulation of the perforant path (PP) in vitro. Controls demonstrated three components of paired-pulse inhibition: early inhibition (10-30 msec), intermediate facilitation (30-120 msec), and late inhibition (120 msec to 120 sec). After seizures, inhibition in all components was enhanced significantly. The GABA(A) antagonist bicuculline blocked only early enhanced inhibition, demonstrating that both GABA(A) and GABA(B) postsynaptic receptors contribute to seizure-induced enhanced inhibition. In controls, the GABA(B) antagonist CGP 35348 increased both GABA(A) and GABA(B) responses in granule cells, suggesting that CGP 35348 acts presynaptically, blocking receptors that suppress GABA release. In contrast, slices from KA-treated rats were markedly less sensitive to CGP 35348. To test the hypothesis that GABA(B) receptors regulating GABA release are downregulated after seizures, we measured paired-pulse suppression of recurrent IPSPs, or disinhibition, using mossy fiber stimuli. Early disinhibition (< 200 msec) was reduced after seizures, whereas late disinhibition remained intact. CGP 35348 blocked the early component of disinhibition in controls and, to a lesser extent, reduced disinhibition in KA slices. However, paired monosynaptic IPSPs recorded intracellularly showed no difference in disinhibition between groups. Our findings indicate that seizure-induced enhancement in dentate inhibition is caused, at least in part, by reduced GABA(B) function in the polysynaptic recurrent inhibitory circuit, resulting in reduced disinhibition and heightened GABA release.

Transient potentiation of spontaneous EPSPs in rat mossy cells induced by depolarization of a single neurone

1. The amplitude and frequency of spontaneously occurring EPSPs recorded intracellularly in rat mossy cells was estimated by measuring membrane potential variance in short segments of a continuous voltage record. Changes in variance reflected changes in the amplitude and/or the frequency of spontaneous EPSPs. 2. Short trains of depolarizing current pulses evoked a delayed increase in membrane potential variance in 55% of trials. Variance increased by 487% during these responses and remained elevated for 124 +/- 16 s. Increases in variance were not associated with large changes in the intrinsic properties of the mossy cell such as resting membrane potential and input resistance. We termed this phenomenon depolarization-related potentiation (DRP). 3. Epochs of elevated variance were associated with an increase in both the average amplitude and frequency of spontaneous EPSPs. During the peak of the response, the mean interval between spontaneous EPSPs decreased by 36.8%. Computer-generated voltage records with randomly distributed EPSP amplitudes and inter-EPSP intervals suggested that this decrease in inter-EPSP intervals was not sufficient to account for the magnitude of the variance increase observed. Based on this model, we estimated that a 90% increase in the average amplitude of spontaneous EPSPs, in addition to the experimentally measured decrease in the average inter-EPSP interval, was required to reproduce the magnitude of the change in variance observed. In the potentiated state, the amplitude of spontaneous EPSPs often exceeded 10 mV. 4. We also observed epochs of increased variance that occurred spontaneously. These spontaneous epochs closely resembled epochs evoked by depolarizing stimuli, suggesting that the stimulus was acting as a trigger for a spontaneously occurring behaviour. Additional evidence supporting this hypothesis was provided by the observation that stereotyped patterns of increased variance could be evoked by brief stimuli, such as a single 5 s depolarizing step. Dual intracellular recordings from two mossy cells demonstrated that spontaneous epochs of increased variance occurred independently in different neurones. This result makes it unlikely that these variance increases were due to a global change in the slice environment such as a propagating wave of potassium ions. 5. Bath application of the Na+ channel blocker TTX eliminated most, but not all, of the normal on-going spontaneous EPSPs in mossy cells. Treatment with depolarizing current pulses was effective in potentiating TTX-resistant spontaneous EPSPs in three of seven trials. Potentiation also decreased the mean interval between TTX-resistant miniature EPSPs (by an average of 66.9%) in two trials examined. 6. These results suggest that DRP results from the activation of an intrinsic phenomenon within the dentate gyrus by strong depolarization of a single mossy cell. Our data suggest that several mechanisms are involved in the expression of DRP since changes in EPSP amplitude and frequency can occur with varying delays from the stimulus. The ability of depolarizing current pulses to potentiate TTX-resistant miniature EPSPs suggests that at least one component of this plasticity occurs at the granule cell-mossy cell synapse.

Different populations of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactive interneurons are specialized to control pyramidal cells or interneurons in the hippocampus

The postsynaptic targets of three vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing GABAergic interneuron types were examined in the rat hippocampus. Two of them showed remarkable target selectivity for other GABAergic neurons, while the third contacted the somata and proximal dendrites of pyramidal cells. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-positive interneurons innervating the stratum oriens/alveus border in the CA1 region were shown to establish multiple contacts with horizontal GABAergic interneurons immunoreactive for type 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor. Similarly, identified axons of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-positive interneurons projecting to stratum radiatum were found to establish symmetrical synapses largely on GABAergic dendrites. The majority of these postsynaptic GABAergic neurons were shown to contain calbindin or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. In contrast to the first two vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing cell populations, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-positive interneurons arborizing in stratum pyramidale formed baskets around pyramidal cells. These results revealed a new element in cortical microcircuits, interneurons which are specialized to innervate other GABAergic interneurons. The role of this new component may be the synchronization of dendritic inhibition, or an input-specific disinhibition of pyramidal cells in various dendritic domains. In contrast, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing basket cells are likely to be involved in perisomatic inhibition of pyramidal neurons, and represents a new basket cell type different from that containing parvalbumin.

Conditions required for polysynaptic excitation of dentate granule cells by area CA3 pyramidal cells in rat hippocampal slices

Under control conditions, stimulation of area CA3 pyramidal cells in slices can produce inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in granule cells by a polysynaptic pathway that is likely to involve hilar neurons [Muller W. and Misgeld U. (1990) J. Neurophysiol. 64, 46-56; Muller W. and Misgeld U. (1991) J. Neurophysiol. 65, 141-147; Scharfman H. E. (1993) Neurosci. Lett. 156, 61-66; Scharfman H. F. (1994) Neurosci. Lett. 168, 29-33]. When slices are disinhibited, excitatory postsynaptic potentials occur after the same stimulus [Sharfman H. E. (1994) J. Neurosci. 14, 6041-6057]. The excitatory postsynaptic potentials are likely to be mediated by pyramidal cells that innervate hilar mossy cells, which in turn innervate granule cells. [Scharfman H. F. (1994) J. Neurosci 14, 6041-6057]. These pathways are potentially important, because they could provide positive or negative feedback from area CA3 to the dentate gyrus. However, it is not clear when the CA3-mossy cell-granule cell excitatory pathway operates, because to date it has only been described in detail when GABA(A) receptors are blocked throughout the entire slice [Scharfman H. E. (1994) J. Neurosci 14, 6041-6057]. Furthermore, the monosynaptic excitatory synaptic connections between these cells have only been observed in the presence of bicuculline [Scharfman H. F. (1994) J. Neurophysiol. 72, 2167-2180; Scharfman H. E. (1995) J. Neurophysiol. 74, 179-194]. Yet in vivo data suggest that a CA3-mossy cell-granule cell excitatory pathway may be active under some physiological conditions, because granule cells discharge in association with sharp wave population bursts of CA3 [Ylinen A., et al. (1995) Hippocampus 5, 78-90]. To address whether the CA3-mossy cell-granule cell pathway occurs without global disinhibition of the slice, and where in the network disinhibition may be required, the effects of area CA3 stimulation on granule cells was examined after focal application of the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline to restricted areas of hippocampal slices. A micropipette containing 1 mM bicuculline was placed transiently either (i) in the area CA3 cell layer, (ii) the granule cell layer, (iii) the hilus, or (iv) more than one site in succession. If a small segment of the CA3 pyramidal cell layer or the hilus was disinhibited, or bicuculline was applied to both regions, area CA3 stimulation still evoked inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in granule cells. In fact, inhibitory postsynaptic potentials were enhanced under these conditions, probably because excitation of inhibitory cells was increased. When bicuculline was applied just to the area near an impaled granule cell, all inhibitory postsynaptic potentials evoked in that cell were blocked, but no underlying excitatory postsynaptic potential was uncovered. If bicuculline was applied focally to either area CA3 or the hilus and the impaled granule cell, CA3 stimulation subsequently evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials in that granule cell, presumably because excitatory neurons innervating granule cells were disinhibited while the effects of inhibitory cells on granule cells were blocked. Excitatory postsynaptic potentials were produced without bicuculline application in three of seven cells, simply by stimulating the fimbria repetitively. Thus, if bicuculline is applied to different sites in the slice, different effects occur on the inhibitory postsynaptic potentials of granule cells that are evoked by a fimbria stimulus. If bicuculline is applied to both the granule cell soma and either area CA3 or the hilus, inhibitory postsynaptic potentials are reduced, and reveal that excitatory postsynaptic potentials can be produced by the same stimulus. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Distribution of alpha 1A, alpha 1B and alpha 1E voltage-dependent calcium channel subunits in the human hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus

The distribution of voltage-dependent calcium channel subunits in the central nervous system may provide information about the function of these channels. The present study examined the distribution of three alpha-1 subunits, alpha 1A, alpha 1B and alpha 1E, in the normal human hippocampal formation and parahippocampal gyrus using the techniques of in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. All three subunit mRNAs appeared to be similarly localized, with high levels of expression in the dentate granule and CA pyramidal layer. At the protein level, alpha 1A, alpha 1B and alpha 1E subunits were differentially localized. In general, alpha 1A-immunoreactivity was most intense in cell bodies and dendritic processes, including dentate granule cells, CA3 pyramidal cells and entorhinal cortex pre-alpha and pri-alpha cells. The alpha 1B antibody exhibited relatively weak staining of cell bodies but stronger staining of neuropil, especially in certain regions of high synaptic density such as the polymorphic layer of the dentate gyrus and the stratum lucidum and radiatum of the CA regions. The alpha 1E staining pattern shared features in common with both alpha 1A and alpha 1B, with strong immunoreactivity in dentate granule, CA3 pyramidal and entorhinal cortex pri-alpha cells, as well as staining of the CA3 stratum lucidum. These findings suggest regions in which particular subunits may be involved in synaptic communication. For example, comparison of alpha 1B and alpha 1E staining in the CA3 stratum lucidum with calbindin-immuno-reactivity suggested that these two calcium channels subunits may be localized presynaptically in mossy fibre terminals and therefore may be involved in neurotransmitter release from these terminals.

Axon arbors and synaptic connections of hippocampal mossy cells in the rat in vivo

The axon collateralization patterns and synaptic connections of intracellularly labeled and electrophysiologically identified mossy cells were studied in rat hippocampus. Light microscopic analysis of 11 biocytin-filled cells showed that mossy cell axon arbors extended through an average of 57% of the total septotemporal length of the hippocampus (summated two-dimensional length, not adjusted for tissue shrinkage). Axon collaterals were densest in distant lamellae rather than in lamellae near the soma. Most of the axon was concentrated in the inner one-third of the molecular layer, with the hilus containing an average of only 26% of total axon length and the granule cell layer containing an average of only 7%. Ultrastructural analysis was carried out on three additional intracellularly stained mossy cells, in which axon collaterals and synaptic targets were examined in serial sections of chosen axon segments. In the central and subgranular regions of the hilus, mossy cell axons established a low density of synaptic contacts onto dendritic shafts, neuronal somata, and occasional dendritic spines. Most hilar synapses were made relatively close to the mossy cell somata. At greater distances from the labeled mossy cell (1-2 mm along the septotemporal axis), the axon collaterals ramified predominantly within the inner molecular layer and made a high density of asymmetric synaptic contacts almost exclusively onto dendritic spines. Quantitative measurements indicated that more than 90% of mossy cell synaptic contacts in the ipsilateral hippocampus are onto spines of proximal dendrites of presumed granule cells. These results are consistent with a primary mossy cell role in an excitatory associational network with granule cells of the dentate gyrus.

Physiological properties of anatomically identified basket and bistratified cells in the CA1 area of the rat hippocampus in vitro

Basket and bistratified cells form two anatomically distinct classes of GABAergic local-circuit neurons in the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus. A physiological comparison was made of intracellularly recorded basket (n = 13) and bistratified neurons (n = 6), all of which had been anatomically defined by their efferent target profile (Halasy et al., 1996). Basket cells had an average resting membrane potential of -64.2 +/- 7.2 vs. -69.2 +/- 4.6 mV in bistratified cells. The latter had considerably higher mean input resistances (60.2 +/- 42.1 vs. 31.3 +/- 10.9 M Ohms) and longer membrane time constants (18.6 +/- 8.1 vs. 9.8 +/- 4.5 ms) than basket cells. Differences were also apparent in the duration of action potentials, those of basket cells being 364 +/- 77 and those of bistratified cells being 527 +/- 138 microseconds at half-amplitude. Action potentials were generally followed by prominent, fast after-hyperpolarizing potentials which in basket cells were 13.5 +/- 6.7 mV in amplitude vs. 10.5 +/- 5.1 in bistratified cells. The differences in membrane time constant, resting membrane potential, and action potential duration reached statistical significance (P < 0.05). Extracellular stimulation of Schaffer collateral/commissural afferents elicited short-latency excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in both cell types. The average 10-90% rise time and duration (at half-amplitude) of subthreshold EPSPs in basket cells were 1.9 +/- 0.5 and 10.7 +/- 5.6 ms, compared to 3.3 +/- 1.3 and 20.1 +/- 9.7 ms in bistratified cells, the difference in EPSP rise times being statistically significant. Basket and bistratified EPSPs were highly sensitive to a bath applied antagonist of non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, whereas the remaining slow-rise EPSP could be abolished by an NMDA receptor antagonist. Increasing stimulation intensity elicited biphasic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) in both basket and bistratified cells. In conclusion, basket and bistratified cells in the CA1 area show prominent differences in several of their membrane and firing properties. Both cell classes are activated by Schaffer collateral/commissural axons in a feedforward manner and receive inhibitory input from other, as yet unidentified, local-circuit neurons.

Homosynaptic and heterosynaptic changes in driving of dentate gyrus interneurons after brief tetanic stimulation in vivo

This study addressed changes in interneuron driving in the dentate gyrus (DG) of urethane-anaesthetized rats in response to tetanic stimulation of the perforant path (PP) or the converging dentate commissural pathway (CP). Using an extracellular tungsten electrode, we recorded from putative interneurons in the DG that fired to stimulation of both the PP and the CP. Conditioning trains (400 Hz, 17.5 ms) were delivered to each pathway individually and to the two pathways together. The primary measure of synaptic drive was the latency of interneuron discharge. High-intensity PP tetany, CP tetany, and paired tetany consistently reduced firing latency to CP driving (P < .05 for all three), indicating an LTP-like increase in synaptic activation through the CP. High-intensity PP tetany decreased latency to PP driving in only two of seven cases. Heterosynaptic changes occurred frequently in individual experiments. Activity-mediated adjustments in synaptic driving of inhibitory interneurons could play a role in normal physiological function.

Electrophysiological properties of neurones in cultures from postnatal rat dentate gyrus

Electrophysiological properties of neurofilament-positive neurones in dissociated cell cultures were prepared at postnatal days 4-5 from rat dentate gyrus and studied using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. These cells expressed a fast-inactivating, 0.5 microM tetrodotoxin-sensitive Na+ current; a high-voltage-activated (HVA) Ca2+ current, which was 30 microM Cd(2+)- and partially 2 microM nicardipine-sensitive; and an inward rectifier current, which was sensitive to extracellularly applied 1 mM Cs+. The outward current pattern was composed of a delayed rectifier-like outward current sensitive to 20 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA) and a fast-inactivating, Ca(2+)-dependent outward current. This transient Ca(2+)-dependent K+ outward current was identified by a subtraction procedure. K+ currents recorded under conditions of blocked Ca2+ currents (after rundown of the HVA Ca2+ current or blocked by extracellularly applied Cd2+) were subtracted from control currents. By comparison with the current pattern of identified dentate granule cells, it is concluded that the investigated cell type originated from interneurones or projection neurones of the dentate hilus.

Properties of single axon excitatory postsynaptic potentials elicited in spiny interneurons by action potentials in pyramidal neurons in slices of rat neocortex

In slices of adult rat somatomotor cortex, paired intracellular recordings determined the properties of a novel class of excitatory connection, that of presynaptic pyramidal axon collaterals onto burst firing, spiny inhibitory interneurons. Single axon excitatory postsynaptic potentials were brief in time course and displayed conventional voltage relations, increasing in amplitude with membrane hyperpolarization with no change in time course. Excitatory postsynaptic potential amplitude distributions were not skewed. Paired pulse facilitation was profound at interspike intervals < 50 ms, but not altered by raising extracellular [Ca2+] from 2.5 to 5 mM, despite an apparent increase in release probability. Raising presynaptic firing frequency did however produce an increase in excitatory postsynaptic potentials elicited by first spikes that was associated with a decline in excitatory postsynaptic potentials elicited by second and third spikes in brief trains of presynaptic spikes. That this pattern of synaptic activity may result from low probabilities of transmitter release is discussed. It is proposed that while raising Ca2+ and increasing presynaptic firing both increase release probability, repetitive presynaptic firing raises probability more effectively than does raising extracellular [Ca2+]. However, concomitant exhaustion of readily releasable transmitter at higher firing rates may partially obscure this effect. It is concluded that the major differences in the firing rate- and firing pattern-dependent properties of pyramid-pyramid and pyramid-interneuron connections are due to the typically lower release probability at synapses onto interneurons. The accompanying paper describes the morphology of these connections.

Properties of unitary IPSPs evoked by anatomically identified basket cells in the rat hippocampus

Hippocampal pyramidal cells receive GABA-mediated synaptic input from several distinct interneurons. In order to define the effect of perisomatic synapses, intracellular recordings were made with biocytin-containing microelectrodes from synaptically connected inhibitory and pyramidal cell pairs in subfields CA1 and CA3 of the rat hippocampus. Subsequent physiological analysis were restricted to the category of cells, here referred to as basket cells (n = 14), which had an efferent synaptic target profile (n = 282 synaptic contacts) of predominantly somatic (48.2%) and proximal dendritic synapses (45.0%). Electron microscopic analysis revealed that in two instances identified postsynaptic pyramidal cells received a total of 10 and 12 labelled basket cell synapses respectively. At an average membrane potential of -57.8 +/- 4.6 mV, unitary inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs; n = 24) had a mean amplitude of 450 +/- 238 microV, a 10-90% rise time of 4.6 +/- 3.2 ms and, measured at half-amplitude, a mean duration of 31.6 +/- 18.2 ms. In most instances (n = 19) the IPSP decay could be fitted with a single exponential with a mean time constant of 32.4 +/- 18.0 ms. Unitary basket cell-evoked IPSPs (n = 5) was extrapolated to be at -74.9 +/- 6.0 mV. Averages of unitary IPSPs had a mean calculated conductance of 0.95 +/- 0.29 nS, ranging from 0.52 to 1.16 nS. Unitary basket cell IPSPs (n = 3) increased in amplitude by 26.6 +/- 19.9% following bath application of the GABAB receptor antagonist CGP 55845A [correction of CGP 35845A] (1-4 microM), whereas subsequent addition of the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline (10-13 microM) reduced the IPSP amplitude to 13.5 +/- 3.1% of the control response. Rapid presynaptic trains of basket cell action potentials resulted in the summation of up to four postsynaptic responses (n = 5). However, any increase in the rate of tonic firing (2- to 10-fold) led to a > 50% reduction of the postsynaptic response amplitude. At depolarized membrane potentials, averaged IPSPs could be followed by a distinct depolarizing overshoot or postinhibitory facilitation (n = 4). At firing threshold, pyramidal cells fired postinhibitory rebound-like action potentials, the latter in close temporal overlap with the depolarizing overshoot. In conclusion, hippocampal basket cells have been identified as one source of fast, GABAA receptor-evoked perisomatic inhibition. Unitary events are mediated by multiple synaptic release sites, thus providing an effective mechanism to avoid total transmission failures.

Synaptic input from CA3 pyramidal cells to dentate basket cells in rat hippocampus

1. Excitatory inputs from CA3 pyramidal cells to dentate basket cells were examined using the whole-cell recording technique in neonatal (10-16 days) rat hippocampal slices to characterize this unexpected feedback pathway. 2. Minimal electrical stimulation of the CA3 pyramidal layer evoked in basket cells short latency (5.2 +/- 0.4 ms) glutamate receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) with fast rise times (at -70 mV, 0.9 +/- 0.2 ms), fast decay time constants (3.6 +/- 0.6 ms), and small amplitudes (-14 +/- 3.4 pA). Minimal electrical stimulation evoked monosynaptic EPSCs in only 48 +/- 9.2% of the trials suggesting that the CA3 pyramidal cell to basket cell pathway was unreliable. 3. CA3 pyramidal cell layer stimulation did not antidromically or synaptically activate granule cells but did evoke polysynaptic IPSCs in granule cells, suggesting that the net effect of CA3 pyramidal cell firing on the dentate gyrus was granule cell inhibition. 4. Stimulation of the CA3 pyramidal cell layer evoked both monosynaptic and polysynaptic EPSCs in basket cells, which were eliminated by a knife lesion separating CA3 from the dentate gyrus. The latencies of the EPSCs evoked in 0.6 mM extracellular calcium were the same as the earliest latencies of EPSCs in 1.5 mM calcium, suggesting that those EPSCs were monosynaptic. The polysynaptic input was more prominent in the presence of 10 microM bicuculline, implying that inhibitory GABAergic circuits normally limit this feedback from CA3 to basket cells. 5. In recordings from 103 pairs of CA3 pyramidal cells and dentate basket cells from 11 slices, two polysynaptic connections were found that were active only when the presynaptic CA3 pyramidal neuron fired in bursts. No monosynaptic connections between CA3 pyramidal cells and basket cells were identified indicating that connections between the two cell types may be sparse. 6. Raising the external potassium concentration from 3.5 to 8.5 mM, which elicited burst firing in CA3 pyramidal cells, resulted in a barrage of EPSCs and action potentials in basket cells. In contrast, granule cells neither fired action potentials nor exhibited increased EPSC frequency in elevated potassium but instead received a higher frequency of bicuculline-sensitive IPSCs, consistent with interneuron firing. The CA3 pyramidal cell to basket cell monosynaptic pathway exhibited paired-pulse facilitation as manifested by an increased probability of release, which supports the idea that basket cells were better activated by short trains of action potentials than by single inputs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adrenergic modulation of hilar neuron activity and granule cell inhibition in the guinea-pig hippocampal slice

To study the effects of norepinephrine on synaptic inhibition in the dentate gyrus, intracellular recordings were made from hilar neurons in the guinea-pig hippocampal slice. The effects of norepinephrine on hilar neurons were compared with changes in the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic potentials recorded from granule cells. Hilar neurons comprised two electrophysiologically distinct groups: type I hilar neurons displayed a pronounced single spike afterhyperpolarization and little spike frequency accommodation, type II hilar neurons had small afterhyperpolarizations and pronounced spike frequency accommodation. The majority of recordings were from type I hilar neurons which are presumably inhibitory to granule cells. In most instances, effects of norepinephrine (2-10 microM) on hilar neurons could be mimicked by the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (0.1-1 microM). Isoproterenol induced a slight depolarization, blocked a slow afterhyperpolarization and, in type II neurons, reduced spike frequency accommodation. These effects were associated with an increase in the spontaneous discharge rate and an enhancement of spontaneous excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. In accordance, isoproterenol and norepinephrine increased the frequency of inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in granule cells. In the presence of the non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione and the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist CGP 37849, isoproterenol and norepinephrine also increased the frequency of Cl- -dependent inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in granule cells. Under this experimental condition, however, norepinephrine reduced the discharge rate of type I hilar neurons through an effect on alpha-receptors. In the presence of GABAA receptor blockers, norepinephrine increased the frequency of spontaneously occurring K(+)-dependent inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in granule cells. Accordingly, the frequency of burst discharges in type I hilar neurons was increased. We suggest that the discrepancy in the effect of norepinephrine on the discharge rate of presumed inhibitory hilar neurons and the frequency of Cl- -dependent inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in granule cells results from a direct effect of norepinephrine on GABAergic terminals because norepinephrine also enhanced the frequency of tetrodotoxin-resistant inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in granule cells. Thus, the net effect of synaptically released norepinephrine on synaptic inhibition in the dentate gyrus will be determined by opposing actions of alpha- versus beta-receptor stimulation at the synapse on hilar neurons.

A physiological role for GABAB receptors and the effects of baclofen in the mammalian central nervous system

The inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA acts in the mammalian brain through two different receptor classes: GABAA and GABAB receptors. GABAB receptors differ fundamentally from GABAA receptors in that they require a G-protein. GABAB receptors are located pre- and/or post-synaptically, and are coupled to various K+ and Ca2+ channels presumably through both a membrane delimited pathway and a pathway involving second messengers. Baclofen, a selective GABAB receptor agonist, as well as GABA itself have pre- and post-synaptic effects. Pre-synaptic effects comprise the reduction of the release of excitatory and inhibitory transmitters. GABAergic receptors on GABAergic terminals may regulate GABA release, however, in most instances spontaneous inhibitory synaptic activity is not modulated by endogenous GABA. Post-synaptic GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition is likely to occur through a membrane delimited pathway activating K+ channels, while baclofen, in some neurons, may activate K+ channels through a second messenger pathway involving arachidonic acid. Some, but not all GABAB receptor-gated K+ channels have the typical properties of those G-protein-activated K+ channels which are also gated by other endogenous ligands of the brain. New, high affinity GABAB antagonists are now available, and some pharmacological evidence points to a receptor heterogeneity. The pharmacological distinction of receptor subtypes, however, has to await final support from a characterization of the molecular structure. The function importance of post-synaptic GABAB receptors is highlighted by a segregation of GABAA and GABAB synapses in the mammalian brain.

Delayed cell death in the contralateral hippocampus following kainate injection into the CA3 subfield

A model of epileptic cell death has been developed employing unilateral injections of kainic acid, a glutamate agonist, into the CA3 subfield of the hippocampus. The contralateral hippocampus, where neuronal damage is induced by hyperactivity in afferent pathways, served as the model structure. The pattern of cell death in this model was shown earlier to correspond to the vulnerable regions in human temporal lobe epilepsy. In the present time-course study we demonstrated that the different subpopulations of vulnerable cells in the contralateral hippocampus of the rat degenerate at different times following kainate injection. Spiny calretinin-containing cells in the hilus and CA3 stratum lucidum disappear at 12-24 h, other types of hilar neurons and CA3c pyramidal cells show shrinkage and argyrophilia at two days, whereas CA1 pyramidal cells degenerate at three days postinjection. The majority of cells destined to die showed a transient expression of the heatshock protein 72, approximately one day (for hilar-CA3c) or two days (for CA1) before degeneration. Parvalbumin-immunoreactivity transiently disappeared from the soma and dendrites of interneurons between the first and the fourth day. The results suggest that seizure-induced cell death is delayed, therefore acute oedema, even if it occurs, is insufficient to kill neurons. The only exception is the population of calretinin-containing interneurons degenerating at 12-24 h. The further one day delay between hilar-CA3c and CA1 cell death is likely to be due to differences in the relative density of glutamate receptor types (kainate versus NMDA) and the source of afferent input of these subfields. Thus, simple pharmacotherapy targeting only one of the excitotoxic mechanisms (i.e. acute oedema of calretinin cells versus delayed death of hilar-CA3c and CA1 cells at different time points) is likely to fail.

Restoration of mossy fiber projection in slice co-cultures of dislocated dentate gyrus and degranulated hippocampus

Regional specificity of the mossy fiber projection is a well described feature of hippocampal intrinsic connectivity. Possible mechanisms involved in the formation of this specific projection include attraction molecules localized in the target area or repulsive cues preventing from ingrowth in non-target areas. To test this hypothesis, using organotypic co-cultures of dentate gyrus and irradiated degranulated hippocampal slices, we have disrupted the pathway normally taken by mossy fibers. The dentate gyrus explant was ectopically placed facing the alveus/stratum oriens of the irradiated hippocampal slice forcing the mossy fibers to cross the stratum oriens to reach their target area. Extensive plexuses of labeled mossy fibers were observed in the hilus and adjacent pyramidal cell layer of non-irradiated dentate gyrus explants. A few mossy fibers crossed the border between the co-cultures and reached their specific termination area in the irradiated hippocampus where they formed characteristic multiple synaptic contacts on their target cells. In addition to mossy fibers, numerous thin and varicose non-mossy fibers invade all parts of the co-cultured hippocampus establishing symmetric synapses. From these data we assume that mossy fiber axons emerging from dislocated non-irradiated dentate gyrus explants find their normal termination zone in the co-cultured degranulated hippocampal slice even if they are forced to run an unusual pathway. These results support the idea that an attraction signal arising from the target area is involved in the formation of this specific projection.

Immunocytochemical localization of the alpha 1 and beta 2/3 subunits of the GABAA receptor in relation to specific GABAergic synapses in the dentate gyrus

Dentate granule cells receive spatially segregated GABAergic innervation from at least five types of local circuit neurons, and express mRNA for at least 11 subunits of the GABAA receptor. At most two to four different subunits are required to make a functional pentamer, raising the possibility that cells have on their surface several types of GABAA receptor channel, which may not be uniformly distributed. In order to establish the subcellular location of GABAA receptors on different parts of dentate neurons, the distribution of immunoreactivity for the alpha 1 and beta 2/3 subunits of the receptor was studied using high-resolution immunocytochemistry. Light microscopic immunoperoxidase reactions revealed strong GABAA receptor immunoreactivity in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. Pre-embedding immunogold localization of the alpha 1 and beta 2/3 subunits consistently showed extrasynaptic location of the GABAA receptor on the somatic, dendritic and axon initial segment membrane of granule cells, but failed to show receptors in synaptic junctions. Using a postembedding immunogold technique on freeze-substituted, Lowicryl-embedded tissue, synaptic enrichment of immunoreactivity for these subunits was found on both granule and non-principal cells. Only the postembedding immunogold method is suitable for revealing relative differences in receptor density at the subcellular level, giving approximately 20 nm resolution. The immunolabelling for GABAA receptor occupied the whole width of synaptic junctions, with a sharp decrease in labelling at the edge of the synaptic membrane specialization. Both subunits have been localized in the synaptic junctions between basket cell terminals and somata, and between axo-axonic cell terminals and axon initial segments of granule cells, with no qualitative difference in labelling. Receptor-immunopositive synapses were found at all depths of the molecular layer. Some of the boutons forming these dendritic synapses have been shown to contain GABA, providing evidence that some of the GABAergic cells that terminate only on the dendrites of granule cells also act through GABAA receptors. Double immunolabelling experiments demonstrated that a population of GABA-immunopositive neurons expresses a higher density of immunoreactive GABAA receptor on their surface than principal cells. Interneurons were found to receive GABAA receptor-positive synapses on their dendrites in the hilus, molecular and granule cell layers. Receptor-immunopositive synapses were also present throughout the hilus on presumed mossy cells. The results demonstrate that both granule cells and interneurons exhibit a compartmentalized distribution of the GABAA receptor on their surface, the postjunctional membrane to GABAergic terminals having the highest concentration of receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Electrophysiological effects of Mu-selective opioids on hilar neurons in the hippocampus in vivo

Although mu-selective opioids have been shown to produce dramatic effects on neurons within the CA1 and dentate regions of the rat hippocampus, little is known regarding their effects on neurons within the hilus, a region of potential importance in several disease states. We studied the neurophysiologic responses of hilar neurons recorded extracellularly to electrophoretic [D-Ala2, NMe-Phe4, Gly-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO) and systemic morphine (MS) in anesthetized rats. We found that hilar cells could be readily divided into two categories, based on their pattern of spontaneous activity and response to perforant path stimulation. Cells that discharged in a bursting-type pattern formed a homogeneous group electrophysiologically. The response of these cells to opioids was dependent on route of administration, with the spontaneous activity of all cells tested increasing following electrophoretically administered DAMGO, and remaining unchanged in response to systemic MS. Cells that discharged in a non-bursting pattern showed some electrophysiologic variation, as well as some differential response to opioids. However, the spontaneous activity in the majority of non-bursting cells increased following electrophoretic administration of DAMGO. In these cells, MS produced similar, although usually less dramatic, effects. Comparison with intracellular data suggests that the bursting cells in our study correlate most closely with hilar "mossy cells," while the non-bursting action potentials were recorded from other cells, primarily putative interneurons. We conclude that mu-selective opioids produce excitation of mossy cells, probably through an indirect mechanism, with the primary site of action occurring on cells in the granule cell layer. This regional excitation may help to mediate the effects of locally administered mu-selective opioids within the dentate gyrus.

Connection matrix of the hippocampal formation: I. The dentate gyrus

The hippocampal formation presents a special opportunity for realistic neural modeling since its structure, connectivity, and physiology are better understood than that of other cortical components. A review of the quantitative neuroanatomy of the rodent dentate gyrus (DG) is presented in the context of the development of a computational model of its connectivity. The DG is a three-layered folded sheet of neural tissue. This sheet is represented as a rectangle, having a surface area of 37 mm2 and a septotemporal length of 12 mm. Points, representing cell somata, are distributed in the model rectangle in a roughly uniform fashion. Synaptic connectivity is generated by assigning each presynaptic cell a spatial zone representing its axonal arbor. For each postsynaptic cell, a list of potential presynaptic cells is compiled, based on which arbor zones the given postsynaptic cell falls within. An appropriate number of presynaptic inputs are then selected at random. The principal cells of the DG, the granule cells, are represented in the model, as are non-principal cells, including basket cells, chandelier cells, mossy cells, and GABAergic peptidergic polymorphic (GPP) cells. The neurons of layer II of the entorhinal cortex are included also. The DG receives its main extrinsic input from these cells via the perforant path. The basket cells, chandelier cells, and GPP cells receive perforant path and granule cell input and exert both feedforward and feedback inhibition onto the granule cells. Mossy cells receive converging input from granule cells and send their output back primarily to distant septotemporal levels, where they contact both granule cells and non-principal cells. To permit numerical simulations, the model must be scaled down while preserving its anatomical structure. A variety of methods for doing this exist. Hippocampal allometry provides valuable clues in this regard.

Spontaneous and synaptic input from granule cells and the perforant path to dentate basket cells in the rat hippocampus

To characterize excitatory inputs to dentate basket cells from dentate granule cells and the perforant path, the whole-cell recording technique was used in neonatal rat hippocampal slices. Spontaneous excitatory input to basket cells was also examined and compared to that of other interneurons in the dentate gyrus. Basket cells were separable from other neurons in the dentate gyrus based on morphology and location, as determined by biocytin staining following recording, and by resting membrane potential, propensity to fire action potentials spontaneously, and miniature excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) characteristics. Minimal electrical stimulation of the granule cell layer evoked in basket cells short latency EPSCs that were composed of both N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate (AMPA) components as judged by their time course, voltage dependence, and blockade by selective antagonists. Perforant path EPSCs exhibited slower kinetics than EPSCs evoked by granule cell stimulation. Like granule cell evoked EPSCs, however, perforant path EPSCs were composed of both NMDA and AMPA components. Minimal electrical stimulation of the granule cell layer and perforant path evoked monosynaptic EPSCs in only 67% and 62% of the trials, respectively, suggesting that these inputs are as unreliable as previously determined inputs from CA3 pyramidal cells (48%). Tetrodotoxin-insensitive spontaneous miniature EPSCs were frequent in basket cells and non-basket interneurons residing either at the border between the granule cell layer and the hilus or deep within the hilus. Miniature EPSCs recorded from all cells held at -70 mV were blocked completely by 3 microM 6-cyano-7-nitro-quinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX). Though a component of the miniature EPSCs recorded from border and deep hilar interneurons at +40 mV was blocked by the NMDA receptor antagonist D-2-amino-phosphonovaleric acid (D-APV), miniature EPSCs in basket cells were insensitive to D-APV. We conclude that input from granule cells and the perforant path results in activation of basket cells via glutamatergic synapses that employ both NMDA and AMPA receptors. These inputs to basket cells likely contribute to feedback and feedforward inhibition of granule cells. The absence of an NMDA receptor component in spontaneous miniature EPSCs of dentate basket cells implies a difference in organization of excitatory synapses made onto basket cells compared with other hilar interneurons.

Muscarinic amplification of fast excitation in hilar neurones and inhibition in granule cells in the guinea-pig hippocampus

1. Effects of the cholinergic agonist, carbachol (CCh), or the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, eserine, on presumed inhibitory hilar neurones and on inhibition in granule cells were studied by intracellular recording in guinea-pig hippocampal slices. 2. CCh (1-5 microM) strongly enhanced the discharge activity of hilar neurones and spontaneous and evoked IPSPs in granule cells. 3. Eserine, in an atropine-sensitive manner, increased the excitability of hilar neurones through effects on membrane properties and on excitatory synaptic barrage. EPSPs readily triggered long-duration burst discharges. In granule cells, the amplitudes of evoked GABAA and GABAB receptor-mediated IPSPs were enhanced. 4. In the presence of eserine and antagonists for glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission, train stimulation evoked atropine-sensitive slow EPSPs. In contrast to those in granule cells, slow EPSPs in hilar neurones were invariably preceded by a strong burst-after-hyperpolarization. 5. We suggest that acetylcholine, released from septo-hippocampal fibres, amplifies fast synaptic excitation of inhibitory hilar neurones and inhibition of granule cells. In the dentate area, muscarinic receptor-mediated effects are faster than anticipated from the time course of the slow EPSP.

Alterations of inhibitory synaptic responses in the dentate gyrus of temporal lobe epileptic patients

The number of orthodromically evoked population spikes was used to classify brain slice tissue from the dentate gyrus of temporal lobe epileptic patients as "more excitable" (multiple population spikes) or "less excitable" (a single population spike). During orthodromic stimulation, "more excitable" tissue exhibited less paired-pulse depression in comparison to "less excitable" tissue. During antidromic stimulation, both multiple population spikes and paired-pulse depression were observed in "more excitable" tissue. "Less excitable" tissue exhibited a single antidromic spike and often no antidromically evoked paired-pulse depression. The strength of antidromic paired-pulse depression was correlated positively with the number of antidromic spikes and was correlated negatively with orthodromic paired-pulse depression. Although orthodromic and antidromic paired-pulse depression were correlated to the number of orthodromically evoked population spikes, this correlation was not as strong as that between orthodromic paired-pulse depression, antidromic paired-pulse depression, and number of antidromically evoked population spikes. The antidromic paired-pulse depression observed in tissue exhibiting antidromically evoked multiple population spikes was enhanced rather than blocked by bicuculline. In addition, the blockade of the antidromic paired-pulse depression by CNQX indicated that this inhibition is mediated by an AMPA-type glutamatergic synapse. We suggest that alterations in circuitry occur in the dentate gyrus of some temporal lobe epileptic patients and were manifested by both a loss of inhibitory input as well as an increase of inhibition, which was dependent on the pathway of stimulation. The results of pairing antidromic and orthodromic stimuli were consistent with these conclusions.

Properties of inhibitory and excitatory synapses between hippocampal neurons in very low density cultures

The whole cell patch clamp technique was used to examine the electrophysiological properties of embryonic hippocampal neurons maintained in a very low density (VLD) culture preparation. The goal of these experiments was to establish the viability of the VLD culture as a model system in which to study regulation of neurotransmission at single monosynaptic connections, in the absence of polysynaptic innervation. Depolarization of neurons in the VLD culture revealed voltage-dependent sodium, calcium, and potassium currents which were blocked with, respectively, tetrodotoxin (TTX), cobalt, and tetraethylammonium and 4-aminopyridine. When pairs of neurons were simultaneously recorded, action potentials evoked in presynaptic neurons elicited either excitatory or inhibitory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs or IPSCs, respectively). The dual component EPSCs were due to the activation of both types of postsynaptic, ionotropic glutamate receptors: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA receptors. Evoked IPSCs were due to the activation of postsynaptic gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. Both excitatory and inhibitory synapses exhibited short term depression in response to high frequency stimulation, although IPSCs were routinely decreased to a much greater degree than EPSCs. Spontaneous miniature EPSCs and IPSCs were found to persist in TTX, were blocked by the same pharmacological antagonists which blocked evoked responses, increased in frequency in response to hypersomotic solution, and were unaffected by changes in extracellular calcium concentration. mIPSCS were found to occur at a significantly lower frequency than mEPSCs. These experiments indicated that neurotransmission in the VLD cultures occurs in a manner consistent with the quantal hypothesis and, therefore, the VLD culture is a good model for studying excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission between isolated pairs of neurons. In addition, these experiments, performed under comparable physiological conditions, demonstrated that there are fundamental differences underlying neurotransmitter release between excitatory and inhibitory neurons.

Ipsilateral associational pathway in the dentate gyrus: an excitatory feedback system that supports N-methyl-D-aspartate-dependent long-term potentiation

Axons from granule cells in the dentate gyrus of the rat hippocampus project to cells in the hilar region, including mossy cells, which project along the longitudinal axis of the hippocampus and synapse in the inner (proximal) one-third of the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. To study this feedback system, multiple recording electrodes were located along the longitudinal (septo-temporal) axis in the dorsal leaf of the dentate gyrus in urethane-anesthetized rats. Single pulse electrical stimuli delivered to the hilar region evoked negative-going, monosynaptic field potentials that were largest in the inner one-third of the molecular layer (commissural zone). These evoked field potentials (EFPs) were recorded simultaneously at three to five locations. The latency to onset and peak amplitude of the EFP varied linearly with distance from point of stimulation, and EFPs were elicited in both directions along the longitudinal axis. The transmission speed was estimated to be 1.4 m/s. Tetanic stimulation of the hilar region potentiated the EFP slopes (mean = 26%). Potentiation lasted at least 2 hours and was specific to responses from the tetanized stimulating electrode; the responses to other stimulating electrodes in the hilus and the angular bundle of the perforant path changed less than 4%. Combined stimulation of the hilus and the medial perforant path increased the magnitude of recorded field potentials and population spikes, demonstrating that both pathways are excitatory. NMDA antagonist NPC-17742 blocked potentiation of EFP slopes in both the medial perforant path and hilus pathways. The results suggest that the ipsilateral associational system of the dentate gyrus is excitatory and capable of supporting long-lasting NMDA-dependent, synapse-specific plasticity.

The functional organization of the hippocampal dentate gyrus and its relevance to the pathogenesis of temporal lobe epilepsy

Temporal lobe seizures are frequently associated with a characteristic pattern of hippocampal pathology (hippocampal sclerosis), as well as pathology in other temporal lobe structures. Despite more than a century of study, the relationship between pathology and epileptogenesis remains unclear. Endfolium sclerosis, which is characterized by the loss of dentate hilar neurons that are presumed to govern dentate granule cell excitability, is evident whenever hippocampal sclerosis exists and is the only temporal lobe pathology in some patients. Because prolonged seizures or head trauma produce endfolium sclerosis and granule cell hyperexcitability in experimental animals, hilar neuron loss may be the common pathological denominator and primary network defect underlying development of a hippocampal seizure "focus." Physiological studies suggest that vulnerable hilar mossy cells normally excite neurons that mediate granule cell inhibition. Recent anatomical studies indicate that the axons of mossy cells project longitudinally, out of the lamellar plane in which their cell bodies lie. If mossy cells in one lamella excite inhibitory neurons in surrounding lamellae, neocortical excitation of one segment of the granule cell layer may produce lateral inhibition and limit neocortical excitation to the targeted lamella. In patients who have had status epilepticus, prolonged febrile seizures, head trauma, or encephalitis, loss of dentate mossy cells may deafferent inhibitory neurons, render them "dormant," and thereby disinhibit an enlarged expanse of the granule cell layer. The selective loss of neurons that normally govern lateral inhibition in the dentate gyrus may cause functional delamination of the granule cell layer and result in synchronous, multilamellar discharges in response to cortical stimuli. Repetitive seizures may ultimately produce the full pattern of hippocampal and mesial temporal sclerosis by destroying cells within the seizure circuit that were not injured irreversibly by the initial insult. Thus, hippocampal pathology may be both the cause and effect of seizures that originate in the temporal lobe.

Diverse sources of hippocampal unitary inhibitory postsynaptic potentials and the number of synaptic release sites

Dual intracellular recordings from microscopically identified neurons in the hippocampus reveal that the synaptic terminals of three morphologically distinct types of interneuron act through GABAA receptors. Each type of interneuron forms up to 12 synaptic contacts with a postsynaptic principal neuron, but each interneuron innervates a different domain of the surface of the postsynaptic neuron. Different kinetics of the postsynaptic effects, together with the strategic placement of synapses, indicate that these GABAergic interneurons serve distinct functions in the cortical network.

Selective protection of neuropeptide containing dentate hilar interneurons by non-NMDA receptor blockade in an animal model of status epilepticus

We used a 24 h perforant path stimulation model of status epilepticus to study the role of non-NMDA receptors in the loss of hilar interneurons and paired pulse inhibition associated with the model. In one experiment, NBQX administered i.v. at 1.0 mg/kg/h significantly reduced the loss of hematoxylin and eosin-stained hilar neurons from 360.2 to 125.3 but failed to protect against the loss of paired pulse inhibition. In a second experiment, i.v. NBQX at 1.5 mg/kg/h significantly protected against loss of SS- and NPY-positive hilar interneurons but also failed to protect against loss of paired pulse inhibition. These results demonstrate that the neuronal loss associated with sustained stimulation of this excitatory pathway is mediated in part through non-NMDA receptors. The lack of protection against loss of paired pulse inhibition suggests that SS- and NPY-immunoreactive interneurons may not be responsible for frequency-dependent paired-pulse inhibition of dentate granule cells.

The effects of general and restricted serotonergic lesions on hippocampal electrophysiology and behavior

Depletion of the forebrain serotonergic system was found in previous studies to induce an increased excitability of the dentate gyrus (DG) granule cells and, when combined with a cholinergic deficiency, to impair spatial learning. We now compared the effects of general forebrain serotonergic lesions induced by intracerebroventricular injection of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT), to those of a more restricted injection of 5,7-DHT into fornix-fimbria and cingulum, to eliminate hippocampal serotonergic innervation. Control and lesioned rats were injected with atropine and tested in the spatial learning water-maze task. Following the behavioral tests, rats were anesthetized and the responsiveness of the DG to perforant path (PP) stimulation was measured. To assess the lesions functionally, responses to application of the serotonin releasing drug fenfluramine (FFA) were measured. Finally, the reduction, in the hippocampus, of serotonergic innervation was evaluated by [3H]imipramine binding. The effects of the lesions on the responsiveness to FFA confirmed that the ICV lesions were functionally more general than the FF lesions. [3H]Imipramine binding indicated that both lesions reduced the serotonergic innervation of the hippocampus significantly. Behaviorally, both lesioned groups were impaired in the water-maze. Electrophysiologically, in both DG excitability was higher than in controls and in both hyperexcitability was associated with an increase in feed-forward inhibition. The results suggest that the serotonergic innervation of the hippocampus proper is involved in cognitive functions associated with the hippocampus.

Temporal and spatial properties of local circuits in neocortex

A large body of anatomical data has detailed many complexities of neocortical circuitry, and physiological studies have indicated some roles for this circuitry in the complex functions of the cortex. Until recently, however, we have little precise information about the spatio-temporal properties of synaptic connections between individual neocortical neurones. Studies of synaptic responses elicited in one neocortical neurone by action potentials in another, and parallel morphological studies that have identified these neurones and the synaptic connections between them, have now described these parameters for certain types of local circuit connection in the neocortex. Some of these studies confirmed previous observations and inferences, but others provided major surprises. Evidence indicates that the class of both the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurone together determine a wide range of synaptic properties, such as the type of postsynaptic receptors involved and the temporal pattern of transmitter release, so that each type of synapse displays unique properties. A role for retrograde diffusable messages in determining the temporal properties of these circuits is postulated.

Synchronization of area CA3 hippocampal pyramidal cells and non-granule cells of the dentate gyrus in bicuculline-treated rat hippocampal slices

A recent study has described synchronous burst discharges of dentate hilar neurons and area CA3 pyramidal cells in the presence of the convulsants 4-aminopyridine and picrotoxin in guinea-pig hippocampal slices [Müller W. and Misgeld U. (1991) J. Neurophysiol. 65, 141-147]. To examine the synchronous activity of dentate cells and area CA3 pyramidal cells further, epileptiform burst discharges were examined in morphologically and/or electrophysiologically identified non-granule cells in the hilus and granule cell layer of the rat dentate gyrus and compared to simultaneously-recorded pyramidal cells of area CA3a, b, and c. Specifically, the types of dentate cells and the types of discharge were examined, as well as the timing of burst discharge of dentate cells relative to different cells of area CA3. In the presence of the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline (30 microM), all dentate cell types discharged in rhythmic, spontaneous bursts that were synchronized with area CA3 pyramidal cell epileptiform bursts. The sampled cells included hilar "mossy" cells, hilar fast-spiking cells (putative interneurons) as well as interneurons located in the granule cell layer, such as the pyramidal "basket" cells. Simultaneous recording from dentate non-granule cells and area CA3 pyramidal cells during exposure to bicuculline demonstrated that stimulus-evoked and spontaneous epileptiform bursts occurred almost exactly at the same time; there were only a few milliseconds between the onsets of pyramidal cell bursts and dentate cell bursts, with the pyramidal cell preceding the dentate cell in almost every case. There were no systematic differences among dentate cell types in the extent they lagged behind pyramidal cells, and there were no detectable differences among area CA3 pyramidal cells. In slices that were cut between area CA3 and the dentate gyrus, epileptiform bursts occurred in area CA3 but not in the dentate. These findings suggest that, in the absence of GABAA receptor-mediated inhibition, excitatory pathways from area CA3 to the dentate gyrus are strong and widespread. These pathways, and possibly other mechanisms, can lead to tightly synchronized action potential discharge of pyramidal cells and dentate non-granule cells. The results also suggest that disinhibition alone is insufficient to cause synchronous bursts in the dentate gyrus, in contrast to area CA3.

Paradoxical enhancement by bicuculline of dentate granule cell IPSPs evoked by fimbria stimulation in rat hippocampal slices

Stimulation of the fimbria in rat hippocampal slices evoked an extracellular negativity in the granule cell layer and a small depolarization in granule cells at their resting potentials. The intracellular potentials appeared to be GABAA receptor-mediated IPSPs because they reversed at -69.1 +/- 1.0 mV (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 14) and were blocked by the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline (10-50 microM, n = 14). However, during the first few minutes of perfusion with bicuculline, IPSPs transiently and paradoxically increased in amplitude. As IPSPs increased, the reversal potential and latency to onset remained the same. These effects were reversible, and during the wash period IPSPs first increased and then stabilized at a smaller amplitude, similar to IPSPs evoked in control conditions. As the GABAA receptor-mediated IPSP decreased, it was followed by a second hyperpolarization. This late hyperpolarization appeared to be a GABAB receptor-mediated IPSP, because it reversed near the equilibrium potential for potassium (mean -81.8 +/- 2.3 mV, n = 12, [K+]o = 5 mM) and was blocked by the GABAB receptor antagonist 2-hydroxy saclofen (250-500 microM, n = 5). The results suggest that GABAA and GABAB receptor-mediated IPSPs evoked in granule cells by fimbria stimulation are normally inhibited by activation of GABAA receptors. The inhibition by GABAA receptors is strong enough that, in control conditions, the GABAA IPSPs are barely detectable and the GABAB IPSPs are undetectable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mossy cells of the rat fascia dentata are glutamate-immunoreactive

The mossy cells represent a prominent cell type of the hilar region. Whereas the morphology of these neurons, their synaptic connections, and physiological characteristics have been described in some detail, information about their neurotransmitter is still lacking. Using immunocytochemistry in combination with Golgi impregnation, the authors demonstrate that identified mossy cells are GABA-immunonegative but stain for glutamate. These results do not prove that these cells use glutamate as a transmitter, since glutamate is a ubiquitous metabolite. However, together with the lack of GABA staining and a recent report on asymmetric spine synapses formed by identified mossy cell axons, the present results support an excitatory nature of these neurons.

Divergence of hippocampal mossy fibers

By connecting the fascia dentata with the hippocampus proper, the axons of the granule cells, the mossy fibers, represent an important element of the main excitatory, trisynaptic pathway of the hippocampal formation. In this review the various synaptic connections of the mossy fibers are discussed. It turns out that the mossy fibers do not only establish synapses with the pyramidal neurons of regio inferior as traditionally assumed, but a variety of local circuit neurons as well as projection cells are also contacted by the mossy fibers. Thus there is an underestimated divergence of the impulse flow within the "trisynaptic" pathway at the level of the mossy fibers. Similarly, the pattern of afferent input to the granule cells, especially that of GABAergic neurons, is more complex than previously assumed. In this respect the concept of a unidirectional "trisynaptic" pathway certainly is an oversimplification. In particular, the hilus of the fascia dentata, that the mossy fibers traverse on their way to regio inferior, is often neglected in this concept. The hilar region comprises a large variety of morphologically and functionally distinct neuronal types that, to a large extent, are targets of hilar mossy fiber collaterals. By focusing on the mossy fiber system, an attempt is made in this review to summarize new data on hippocampal circuitries that have been accumulated since the original description of the trisynaptic pathway. This concept, which originally comprised the synapses of the perforant path fibers on dentate granule cells, the mossy fiber synapses on CA3 pyramidal neurons, and the synapses of the Schaffer collaterals on CA1 pyramidal cells, has been of great heuristic value but needs to be modified in view of recent morphological and physiological data.

Effects of serotonin on hilar neurons and granule cell inhibition in the guinea pig hippocampal slice

Intracellular recordings in guinea pig hippocampal slices were used to study the effects of serotonin (5-HT) on presumed inhibitory hilar neurons and on postsynaptic inhibition of granule cells. 5-HT applied by the bath hyperpolarized only 50% of the hilar neurons tested but all CA3 neurons and granule cells, presumably by activating a K-conductance. The bath application of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, 50 microM) induced burst discharge activity in hilar neurons and giant inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) in granule cells consisting of a Cl- and K-component. 5-HT (5-10 microM) reversibly blocked the K-component of giant IPSPs in granule cells, but not their Cl-component. In the majority of hilar neurons 5-HT increased the frequency of 4-AP induced burst discharges even when hilar neurons were hyperpolarized. Only in a few hilar neurons 5-HT blocked 4-AP induced burst discharges. We conclude that the changes in burst discharge pattern of hilar neurons correspond with the differential effect of 5-HT on Cl- and K-mediated inhibition of granule cells.

Role of glutamatergic synaptic transmission in synchronized discharges of hilar neurons in guinea pig hippocampal slices

The role of glutamatergic excitatory synaptic transmission in the synchronization of burst discharges in hilar neurons was studied using paired intracellular recording from hilar neurons and granule cells of guinea pig hippocampal slices. The convulsant 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, 50-100 microM) induced synchronous burst discharges in hilar neurons time locked to giant inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) in granule cells. The non-N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (non-NMDA) receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX, 5-10 microM) disrupted this synchrony. The inhibitory effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)B receptor stimulation on the frequency of synchronous activity was smaller in the presence of CNQX than in its absence. We conclude that glutamatergic synapses operating through non-NMDA receptors are required for the synchronization but not for the generation of burst discharges which are induced by 4-AP in hilar neurons.

Complete axon arborization of a single CA3 pyramidal cell in the rat hippocampus, and its relationship with postsynaptic parvalbumin-containing interneurons

The complete axon arborization of a single CA3 pyramidal cell has been reconstructed from 32 (60 microns thick) sections from the rat hippocampus following in vivo intracellular injection of neurobiotin. The same sections were double-immunostained for parvalbumin--a calcium-binding protein selectively present in two types of GABAergic interneurons, the basket and chandelier cells--in order to map boutons of the pyramidal cell in contact with dendrites and somata of these specific subsets of interneurons visualized in a Golgi-like manner. The axon of the pyramidal cell formed 15,295 boutons, 63.8% of which were in stratum oriens, 15.4% in stratum pyramidale and 20.8% in stratum radiatum. Only 2.1% of the axon terminals contacted parvalbumin-positive neurons. Most of these were single contacts (84.7%), but double or triple contacts (15.3%) were also found. The majority of the boutons terminated on dendrites (84.1%) of parvalbumin-positive cells, less frequently on cell bodies (15.9%). In order to estimate the proportion of contacts representing synapses, 16 light microscopically identified contacts between boutons of the filled pyramidal cell axon and the parvalbumin-positive targets were examined by correlated electron microscopy. Thirteen of them were found to be asymmetrical synapses, and in the remaining three cases synapses between the labelled profiles could not be confirmed. We conclude that the physiologically effective excitatory connections between single pyramidal cells and postsynaptic inhibitory neurons are mediated by a small number of contacts, mostly by a single synapse. This results in a high degree of convergence and divergence in hippocampal networks.

Quantal components of unitary EPSCs at the mossy fibre synapse on CA3 pyramidal cells of rat hippocampus

1. Excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) were recorded in CA3 pyramidal cells of hippocampal slices of 15- to 24-day-old rats (22 degrees C) using the whole-cell configuration of the patch clamp technique. 2. Composite EPSCs were evoked by extracellular stimulation of the mossy fibre tract. Using the selective blockers 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) and D-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (APV), a major alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA)/kainate receptor-mediated component and a minor NMDA receptor-mediated component with slower time course were distinguished. For the AMPA/kainate receptor-mediated component, the peak current-voltage (I-V) relation was linear, with a reversal potential close to 0 mV. The half-maximal blocking concentration of CNQX was 353 nM. 3. Unitary EPSCs of the mossy fibre terminal (MF)-CA3 pyramidal cell synapse were evoked at membrane potentials of -70 to -90 mV by low-intensity extracellular stimulation of granule cell somata using fine-tipped pipettes. The EPSC peak amplitude as a function of stimulus intensity showed all-or-none behaviour. The region of low threshold was restricted to a few micrometres. This suggests that extracellular stimulation was focal, and that the stimulus-evoked EPSCs were unitary. 4. Latency and rise time histograms of EPSCs evoked by granule cell stimulation showed narrow unimodal distributions within each experiment. The mean latency was 4.2 +/- 1.0 ms, and the mean 20-80% rise time was 0.6 +/- 0.1 ms (23 cells). When fitted within the range 0.7 ms to 20 ms after the peak, the decay of the EPSCs with the fastest rise (rise time 0.5 ms or less) could be described by a single exponential function; the mean time constant was in the range 3.0-6.6 ms with a mean of 4.8 ms (8 cells). 5. Peak amplitudes of the EPSCs evoked by suprathreshold granule cell stimulation fluctuated between trials. The apparent EPSC peak conductance in normal extracellular solution (2 mM Ca2+, 1 mM Mg2+), excluding failures, was 1 nS. Reducing the Ca2+ concentration and increasing the Mg2+ concentration reduced the mean peak amplitude in a concentration-dependent manner. 6. Peaks in EPSC peak amplitude distributions were apparent in low Ca2+ and high Mg2+. Using the criteria of equidistance and the presence of peaks and dips in the autocorrelation function, five of nine EPSC peak amplitude distributions were judged to be quantal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The behavior of mossy cells of the rat dentate gyrus during theta oscillations in vivo

Intracellular current clamp recordings were obtained from mossy cells (n = 6, identified by intracellular injection of biocytin) of the dorsal dentate gyrus from rats under ketamine-xylazine anesthesia. During electroencephalographic theta rhythm (4-6 Hz), recorded with a macroelectrode placed in the contralateral dorsal hippocampus near the fissure, mossy cells displayed intracellular membrane potential oscillations at low frequencies (4-6 Hz) which appeared to be phase locked to the electroencephalographic theta rhythm. The frequency of the intracellular theta rhythm was independent of the membrane potential. However, the phase difference between the intracellular and the electroencephalographic theta rhythms as well as the amplitude of the intracellular theta oscillations were voltage-dependent. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that rhythmic GABAA receptor-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic potentials contribute to the genesis of the intracellular theta rhythm. Indeed, mossy cells displayed an early, fast inhibitory postsynaptic potential in response to electrical stimulation of the entorhinal cortex, which most likely represents a GABAA receptor-mediated event, indicating that mossy cells possess functional GABAA receptors. At the resting membrane potential, mossy cells did not fire at each cycle of the electroencephalographic theta rhythm but fired only rarely (< 1 Hz). However, when they did fire they did so preferentially in phase with the peak positivity of the electroencephalographic theta rhythm. Reconstruction of two mossy cells with axonal projections to the inner molecular layer showed that the spatial extent of the influence such weakly discharging mossy cells may have on other dentate gyrus neurons during theta oscillations can be several millimeters in the septotemporal direction. In conclusion, these findings show that mossy cells of the rat hilus during ketamine-xylazine anesthesia participate in theta oscillations of the hippocampal formation, during which their low-frequency firing may contribute to the phase-locking of a large number of spatially distributed postsynaptic neurons with postsynaptic sites in the inner molecular layer of the dentate gyrus.

GABAA- and GABAB-mediated inhibition in the rat dentate gyrus in vitro

Many studies suggest that the dentate gyrus (DG) is a control point for hippocampal epileptogenesis. However, the importance of GABAergic inhibition in the DG is not quite clear. Intracellular recordings were obtained from granule cells (GC) of the rat DG. In addition to GABAA-mediated spontaneous postsynaptic potentials (PSPs), some GC exhibited spontaneous slow hyperpolarizations (SH). The SH were more commonly observed in a high concentration of external potassium. 2-Hydroxysaclofen, a GABAB antagonist, reduced the SH. Focal stimulation of the perforant path (PP) in the subiculum with a single pulse evoked a depolarization followed by a SH, which were both abolished by the excitatory amino acid (EAA) blockers, 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3 dione (CNQX) and 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV). When evoked with a train of pulses, the SH was unaffected by the EAA blockers in 40% of the cells, suggesting either the existence of a GABAergic PP, or an unidentified polysynaptic mechanism. In control, the synaptic response to PP stimulation was superficially similar whether the stimulus was applied in the subiculum or stratum moleculare. However, in presence of bicuculline, the subicular PSP was followed by a train of PSPs occurring at a constant frequency of 25 Hz. This 'reverberating' effect of bicuculline was decreased in presence of APV and was abolished in slices in which the excitatory transmission had been interrupted downstream from CA3 neurons, suggesting that reverberation required the integrity of the hippocampo-entorhinal loop. By contrast, bicuculline decreased the amplitude of the stratum moleculare PSP. It is concluded that GC receive tonic inhibition from GABA acting at GABAA and GABAB receptors. The role of GABAB receptors is unclear; by contrast, GABAA-mediated inhibition prevents GC from reverberated excitation. The probability of occurrence of reverberation is higher during activation of the whole temporo-ammonic pathway and is partly dependent on the activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Thus, the in vitro brain slice can be used as a model to study reverberation which has been recently demonstrated to underlie epileptiform discharges in the whole brain preparation.

Characteristics of spontaneous and evoked EPSPs recorded from dentate spiny hilar cells in rat hippocampal slices

1. Excitation of the spiny subtype of hilar neurons in the fascia dentata was characterized by intracellular recording from hilar cells in hippocampal slices. Stimulation of the outer molecular layer was used to activate the perforant path. Evoked responses were examined, as well as the large spontaneous excitatory potentials that are a distinctive characteristic of spiny hilar cells. 2. Excitatory potentials that occurred spontaneously, as well as those that occurred in response to outer molecular layer stimulation, were similar among the cells that were sampled, regardless of morphological variations such as the presence or absence of thorny excrescences. Spontaneous and evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) were complex depolarizations that often had several discrete peaks. Spontaneous EPSPs increased in amplitude slightly with hyperpolarization, and evoked EPSPs clearly increased with hyperpolarization. 3. Applications of selective antagonists of excitatory amino acid receptors were used to determine which excitatory amino acid receptor mediates EPSPs of these cells. 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) was used to block the receptor subtype selective for the agonists alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and kainic acid (the "AMPA/kainate" receptor). 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV) was used to block receptors specific for the agonist N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA; the "NMDA" receptor). Perfusion with CNQX (5-25 microM) completely blocked all spontaneous and evoked excitation, even when activity was examined at relatively depolarized membrane potentials and a low concentration of extracellular magnesium (0.5 mM) was used. Under these conditions, APV (25-50 microM) had no detectable effect on spontaneous activity but did increase the stimulus strength required to elicit responses to outer molecular layer stimulation. 4. When extracellular magnesium was lowered to 0 mM (nominally), there was strong evidence for a contribution of NMDA receptors to spontaneous and evoked EPSPs. Thus, when cells were perfused with 0 mM extracellular magnesium and 5 microM CNQX, spontaneous depolarizations were present and EPSPs could be triggered by stimulation of the outer molecular layer. Both the spontaneous and evoked EPSPs were blocked by 25 microM APV. 5. Because gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptors can cause depolarizations in hippocampal neurons, the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline was used to determine whether some of the EPSPs were mediated by GABAergic neurons that are normally activated by spontaneous release of excitatory amino acids. Bicuculline (5-25 microM) had no effect on spontaneous depolarizations, and led to an enhancement of evoked depolarizations. Therefore it does not appear that GABAA receptor-mediated depolarizations contribute to hilar cell depolarizations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Activation of dentate hilar neurons by stimulation of the fimbria in rat hippocampal slices

It is has been shown that the major afferent input to the dentate gyrus, the perforant path, excites dentate hilar neurons. However, little is known about the other inputs to hilar cells. Therefore, we examined the responses of hilar neurons to stimulation of the fimbria. We positioned our stimulating electrodes so that granule cells were not excited antidromically by fimbria stimulation, although action potentials were easily triggered in area CA3b and CA3c pyramidal cells by such stimulation. In these experiments, fimbria stimulation evoked responses from every hilar cell tested, including examples of both of the major cell types, the spiny hilar 'mossy' cells (n = 15) and the relatively aspiny, 'fast-spiking' cells (putative interneurons, n = 5). Hilar cell responses consisted primarily of EPSPs that could trigger action potentials, but small IPSPs were also evoked in some cases, particularly in the fast-spiking cells. Excitation was blocked by an antagonist of the AMPA/kainate receptor subtype of excitatory amino acid receptors, 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX, 5 microM, n = 5), whereas the cholinergic antagonist atropine (10 microM) had no effect (n = 4). When sequential intracellular recordings were made from hilar cells and area CA3 pyramidal cells in the same slice, hilar cell EPSPs began after action potentials of CA3b pyramidal cells, and stimulus strengths required to evoke hilar cell EPSPs were above threshold for area CA3b pyramidal cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Synaptic activation in guinea-pig dentate area: dependence on the stimulation site

A negative-going and a positive-going field potential were evoked in the granule cell layer by electrical stimulation of a region near the cell layer (commissural/associational fibres, cf) and of the lateral perforant path (perforant-path fibres, pp). The cf-evoked field potential was more strongly reduced by (-)baclofen (2-5 mumol l-1) and carbachol (2-5 mumol l-1) than was the pp-evoked field potential. By simultaneous intra- and extracellular recordings, the elements activated from the two stimulation sites were determined. Stimulation of cf-fibres elicited concurrently excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials, but inhibition predominated. pp stimulation elicited excitation followed by inhibition, and excitation predominated. Responses evoked from both stimulation sites were affected by antagonists for glutamatergic excitation. Inhibition blockade revealed that excitation elicited from the cf-stimulation site was largely shunted by inhibition. Presumed inhibitory neurons in the dentate hilus were driven at latencies consistent with the latencies at which inhibition was elicited in granule cells from the two stimulation sites. We conclude that the sequence of synaptic events produced by extracellular stimulation can vary substantially by slightly differing electrode placements. However, it is difficult to decide, simply on the basis of an extracellular field potential, what elements have been activated.

Subdivisions in the multiple GABAergic innervation of granule cells in the dentate gyrus of the rat hippocampus

The sources of GABAergic innervation to granule cells were studied to establish how the basic cortical circuit is implemented in the dentate gyrus. Five types of neuron having extensive local axons were recorded electrophysiologically in vitro and filled intracellularly with biocytin (Han et al., 1993). They were processed for electron microscopy in order to reveal their synaptic organization and postsynaptic targets, and to test whether their terminals contained GABA. (1) The hilar cell, with axon terminals in the commissural and association pathway termination field (HICAP cell), formed Gray's type 2 (symmetrical) synapses with large proximal dendritic shafts (n = 18), two-thirds of which could be shown to emit spines, and with small dendritic branches (n = 6). Other boutons of the HICAP neuron were found to make either Gray's type 1 (asymmetrical) synapses (n = 4) or type 2 synapses (n = 6) with dendritic spines. Using a highly sensitive silver-intensified immunogold method for the postembedding visualization of GABA immunoreactivity, both the terminals and the dendrites of the HICAP cell were found to be immunopositive, whereas its postsynaptic targets were GABA-immunonegative. The dendritic shafts of the HICAP cell received synapses from both GABA-negative and GABA-positive boutons; the dendritic spines which densely covered the main apical dendrite in the medial one-third of the molecular layer received synapses from GABA-negative boutons. (2) The hilar cell, with axon terminals distributed in conjunction with the perforant path termination field (HIPP cell), established type 2 synapses with distal dendritic shafts (n = 17), most of which could be shown to emit spines, small-calibre dendritic profiles (n = 2) and dendritic spines (n = 6), all showing characteristics of granule cell dendrites. The sparsely spiny dendrites of the HIPP cell were covered with many synaptic boutons on both their shafts and their spines. (3) The cell with soma in the molecular layer had an axon associated with the perforant path termination field (MOPP cell). This GABA-immunoreactive cell made type 2 synapses exclusively on dendritic shafts (n = 20), 60% of which could be shown to emit spines. The smooth dendrites of the MOPP cell were also restricted to the outer two-thirds of the molecular layer, where they received both GABA-negative and GABA-positive synaptic inputs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)