Ultrastructure and synaptic relations of neural elements containing glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in the perigeniculate nucleus of the cat. A light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical study

The parabigeminal nucleus is a source of "retinogeniculate replacement terminals" in mice that lack retinofugal input

In the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of mice that lack retinal input, a population of large terminals supplants the synaptic arrangements normally made by the missing retinogeniculate terminals. To identify potential sources of these "retinogeniculate replacement terminals," we used mutant mice (math5-/- ) which lack retinofugal projections due to the failure of retinal ganglion cells to develop. In this line, we labeled LGN terminals that originate from the primary visual cortex (V1) or the parabigeminal nucleus (PBG), and compared their ultrastructure to retinogeniculate, V1 or PBG terminals in the dLGN of C57Blk6 (WT) mice (schematically depicted above graph). Corticogeniculate terminals labeled in WT and math5-/- mice were similar in size and both groups were significantly smaller than WT retinogeniculate terminals. In contrast, the PBG projection in math5-/- mice was extensive and there was considerable overlap in the sizes of retinogeniculate terminals in WT mice and PBG terminals in math5-/- mice (summarized in histogram). The data indicate that V1 is not a source of "retinogeniculate replacement terminals" and suggests that large PBG terminals expand their innervation territory to replace retinogeniculate terminals in their absence.

Transient neurochemical features of the perigeniculate neurons during early postnatal development of the cat

The thalamic reticular nucleus receives axons from the thalamic sensory nuclei and the cerebral cortex. The visual part of this nucleus in carnivores is the perigeniculate nucleus located dorsal to the lateral geniculate nucleus. The perigeniculate nucleus participates in the modulation of visual processing and in the transition of synchronized slow rhythmicity during sleep into desynchronized high-frequency activity during arousal and consists of inhibitory neurons. The main neurochemical markers for perigeniculate neurons are glutamic acid decarboxylase and Ca²⁺ -binding protein parvalbumin. Previous studies of postnatal development focused on the morphological features of the perigeniculate nucleus; however, its neurochemistry remains poorly understood. In this study, we focused on the postnatal development of perigeniculate neurons using immunohistochemical labeling of parvalbumin, two related Ca²⁺ -binding proteins (calretinin and calbindin), glutamic acid decarboxylase, and a common neuronal protein, NeuN, in kittens that were 0-123 days old and in adult cats. In parallel with the well-known dominant neuronal populations expressing parvalbumin and GAD67 and persisting until adulthood, transient populations expressing calretinin and calbindin were observed. The calbindin-positive neurons were similar to the main perigeniculate population and showed close morphological features and parvalbumin coexpression. In contrast, the calretinin-positive neurons differed in their morphological characteristics and did not express GAD67, thus distinguishing them from the majority of perigeniculate neurons. A possible link between these populations was revealed, and the development of thalamocortical processing is discussed.

GABAergic cell types in the superficial layers of the mouse superior colliculus

To begin to unravel the complexities of GABAergic circuits in the superior colliculus (SC), we utilized mouse lines that express green fluorescent protein (GFP) in cells that contain the 67 kDa isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67-GFP), or Cre-recombinase in cells that contain glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD; GAD2-cre). We used Cre-dependent virus injections in GAD2-Cre mice and tracer injections in GAD67-GFP mice, as well as immunocytochemical staining for gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) and parvalbumin (PV) to characterize GABAergic cells that project to the pretectum (PT), ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN) or parabigeminal nucleus (PBG), and interneurons in the stratum griseum superficiale (SGS) that do not project outside the SC. We found that approximately 30% of SGS neurons in the mouse are GABAergic. Of these GABAergic neurons, we identified three categories of potential interneurons in the GAD67-GFP line (GABA+GFP ~45%, GABA+GFP + PV ~15%, and GABA+PV ~10%). GABAergic cells that did not contain GFP or PV were identified as potential projection neurons (GABA only ~30%). We found that GABAergic neurons that project to the PBG are primarily located in the SGS and exhibit narrow field vertical, stellate, and horizontal dendritic morphologies, while GABAergic neurons that project to the PT and vLGN are primarily located in layers ventral to the SGS. In addition, we examined GABA and GAD67-containing elements of the mouse SGS using electron microscopy to further delineate the relationship between GABAergic circuits and retinotectal input. Approximately 30% of retinotectal synaptic targets are the presynaptic dendrites of GABAergic interneurons, and GAD67-GFP interneurons are a source of these presynaptic dendrites.

Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors in the primate motor thalamus: subsynaptic association with cortical and sub-cortical glutamatergic afferents

Preclinical evidence indicates that mGluR5 is a potential therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease and L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. However, the mechanisms through which these therapeutic benefits are mediated remain poorly understood. Although the regulatory role of mGluR5 on glutamatergic transmission has been examined in various basal ganglia nuclei, very little is known about the localization and function of mGluR5 in the ventral motor and intralaminar thalamic nuclei, the main targets of basal ganglia output in mammals. Thus, we used immuno-electron microscopy to map the cellular and subcellular localization of group I mGluRs (mGluR1a and mGluR5) in the ventral motor and caudal intralaminar thalamic nuclei in rhesus monkeys. Furthermore, using double immuno-electron microscopy, we examined the subsynaptic localization of mGluR5 in relation to cortical and sub-cortical glutamatergic afferents. Four major conclusions can be drawn from these data. First, mGluR1a and mGluR5 are expressed postsynaptically on the plasma membrane of dendrites of projection neurons and GABAergic interneurons in the basal ganglia- and cerebellar-receiving regions of the ventral motor thalamus and in CM. Second, the plasma membrane-bound mGluR5 immunoreactivity is preferentially expressed perisynaptically at the edges of cortical and sub-cortical glutamatergic afferents. Third, the mGluR5 immunoreactivity is more strongly expressed in the lateral than the medial tiers of CM, suggesting a preferential association with thalamocortical over thalamostriatal neurons in the primate CM. Overall, mGluR5 is located to subserve powerful modulatory role of cortical and subcortical glutamatergic transmission in the primate ventral motor thalamus and CM.

Ultrastructural and optogenetic dissection of V1 corticotectal terminal synaptic properties

The superior colliculus (SC) is a major site of sensorimotor integration in which sensory inputs are processed to initiate appropriate motor responses. Projections from the primary visual cortex (V1) to the SC have been shown to exert a substantial influence on visually induced behavior, including "freezing." However, it is unclear how V1 corticotectal terminals affect SC circuits to mediate these effects. To investigate this, we used anatomical and optogenetic techniques to examine the synaptic properties of V1 corticotectal terminals. Electron microscopy revealed that V1 corticotectal terminals labeled by anterograde transport primarily synapse (93%) on dendrites that do not contain gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). This preference was confirmed using optogenetic techniques to photoactivate V1 corticotectal terminals in slices of the SC maintained in vitro. In a mouse line in which GABAergic SC interneurons express green fluorescent protein (GFP), few GFP-labeled cells (11%) responded to activation of corticotectal terminals. In contrast, 67% of non-GABAergic cells responded to activation of V1 corticotectal terminals. Biocytin-labeling of recorded neurons revealed that wide-field vertical (WFV) and non-WFV cells were activated by V1 corticotectal inputs. However, WFV cells were activated in the most uniform manner; 85% of these cells responded with excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) that maintained stable amplitudes when activated with light trains at 1-20 Hz. In contrast, in the majority of non-WFV cells, the amplitude of evoked EPSPs varied across trials. Our results suggest that V1 corticotectal projections may initiate freezing behavior via uniform activation of the WFV cells, which project to the pulvinar nucleus.

Synaptic organization of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus

A half century after Ray Guillery's classic descriptions of cell types, axon types, and synaptic architecture of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, the functional organization of this nucleus, as well as all other thalamic nuclei, is still of enormous interest. This review will focus on two classic papers written by Ray Guillery: 'A study of Golgi preparations from the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the adult cat', and 'The organization of synaptic interconnections in the laminae of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat', as well as the studies that most directly followed from the insights these landmark manuscripts provided. It is hoped that this review will honor Ray Guillery by encouraging further investigations of the synaptic organization of the dorsal thalamus.

Spatial scale of receptive fields in the visual sector of the cat thalamic reticular nucleus

Inhibitory projections from the visual sector of the thalamic reticular nucleus to the lateral geniculate nucleus complete the earliest feedback loop in the mammalian visual pathway and regulate the flow of information from retina to cortex. There are two competing hypotheses about the function of the thalamic reticular nucleus. One regards the structure as a thermostat that uniformly regulates thalamic activity through negative feedback. Alternatively, the searchlight hypothesis argues for a role in focal attentional modulation through positive feedback, consistent with observations that behavioral state influences reticular activity. Here, we address the question of whether cells in the reticular nucleus have receptive fields small enough to provide localized feedback by devising methods to quantify the size of these fields across visual space. Our results show that reticular neurons in the cat operate over discrete spatial scales, at once supporting the searchlight hypothesis and a role in feature selective sensory processing.The searchlight hypothesis proposes that the thalamic reticular nucleus regulates thalamic relay activity through focal attentional modulation. Here the authors show that the receptive field sizes of reticular neurons are small enough to provide localized feedback onto thalamic neurons in the visual pathway.

Receptive field properties of cat perigeniculate neurons correlate with excitatory and inhibitory connectivity to LGN relay neurons

The cat perigeniculate nucleus (PGN) is a visual sector of the thalamic reticular nucleus that consists of GABAergic neurons. It receives excitatory axon-collateral input from relay neurons of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) to which it provides inhibitory input. Thus, it is usually argued that the PGN works as feedback inhibition to the LGN. At the single neuron level, however, this circuit can also provide lateral inhibition. Which inhibition dominates in the visual circuit of the thalamus has yet to be well characterized. In this study, we conducted cross-correlation analysis of single spike trains simultaneously recorded from PGN and LGN neurons in anesthetized cats. For 12 pairs of functionally connected PGN and LGN neurons with overlapped receptive fields (RF), we quantitatively compared RF properties including the spatial frequency (SF) and temporal frequency (TF) tunings of each neuron. We found the SF and TF tunings of PGN neurons and LGN neurons were similar when there was only excitatory input from the LGN neuron to the PGN neuron, but different when the PGN neuron returned inhibitory inputs back, suggesting the circuit between PGN and LGN neurons works as lateral inhibition for these properties.

A Neurophysiological Perspective on a Preventive Treatment against Schizophrenia Using Transcranial Electric Stimulation of the Corticothalamic Pathway

Schizophrenia patients are waiting for a treatment free of detrimental effects. Psychotic disorders are devastating mental illnesses associated with dysfunctional brain networks. Ongoing brain network gamma frequency (30–80 Hz) oscillations, naturally implicated in integrative function, are excessively amplified during hallucinations, in at-risk mental states for psychosis and first-episode psychosis. So, gamma oscillations represent a bioelectrical marker for cerebral network disorders with prognostic and therapeutic potential. They accompany sensorimotor and cognitive deficits already present in prodromal schizophrenia. Abnormally amplified gamma oscillations are reproduced in the corticothalamic systems of healthy humans and rodents after a single systemic administration, at a psychotomimetic dose, of the glutamate N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist ketamine. These translational ketamine models of prodromal schizophrenia are thus promising to work out a preventive noninvasive treatment against first-episode psychosis and chronic schizophrenia. In the present essay, transcranial electric stimulation (TES) is considered an appropriate preventive therapeutic modality because it can influence cognitive performance and neural oscillations. Here, I highlight clinical and experimental findings showing that, together, the corticothalamic pathway, the thalamus, and the glutamatergic synaptic transmission form an etiopathophysiological backbone for schizophrenia and represent a potential therapeutic target for preventive TES of dysfunctional brain networks in at-risk mental state patients against psychotic disorders.

Dynamics of intrinsic dendritic calcium signaling during tonic firing of thalamic reticular neurons

The GABAergic neurons of the nucleus reticularis thalami that control the communication between thalamus and cortex are interconnected not only through axo-dendritic synapses but also through gap junctions and dendro-dendritic synapses. It is still unknown whether these dendritic communication processes may be triggered both by the tonic and the T-type Ca²⁺ channel-dependent high frequency burst firing of action potentials displayed by nucleus reticularis neurons during wakefulness and sleep, respectively. Indeed, while it is known that activation of T-type Ca²⁺ channels actively propagates throughout the dendritic tree, it is still unclear whether tonic action potential firing can also invade the dendritic arborization. Here, using two-photon microscopy, we demonstrated that dendritic Ca²⁺ responses following somatically evoked action potentials that mimic wake-related tonic firing are detected throughout the dendritic arborization. Calcium influx temporally summates to produce dendritic Ca²⁺ accumulations that are linearly related to the duration of the action potential trains. Increasing the firing frequency facilitates Ca²⁺ influx in the proximal but not in the distal dendritic compartments suggesting that the dendritic arborization acts as a low-pass filter in respect to the back-propagating action potentials. In the more distal compartment of the dendritic tree, T-type Ca²⁺ channels play a crucial role in the action potential triggered Ca²⁺ influx suggesting that this Ca²⁺ influx may be controlled by slight changes in the local dendritic membrane potential that determine the T-type channels’ availability. We conclude that by mediating Ca²⁺ dynamic in the whole dendritic arborization, both tonic and burst firing of the nucleus reticularis thalami neurons might control their dendro-dendritic and electrical communications.

Neurons in the thalamic reticular nucleus are selective for diverse and complex visual features

All visual signals the cortex receives are influenced by the perigeniculate sector (PGN) of the thalamic reticular nucleus, which receives input from relay cells in the lateral geniculate and provides feedback inhibition in return. Relay cells have been studied in quantitative depth; they behave in a roughly linear fashion and have receptive fields with a stereotyped center-surround structure. We know far less about reticular neurons. Qualitative studies indicate they simply pool ascending input to generate non-selective gain control. Yet the perigeniculate is complicated; local cells are densely interconnected and fire lengthy bursts. Thus, we employed quantitative methods to explore the perigeniculate using relay cells as controls. By adapting methods of spike-triggered averaging and covariance analysis for bursts, we identified both first and second order features that build reticular receptive fields. The shapes of these spatiotemporal subunits varied widely; no stereotyped pattern emerged. Companion experiments showed that the shape of the first but not second order features could be explained by the overlap of On and Off inputs to a given cell. Moreover, we assessed the predictive power of the receptive field and how much information each component subunit conveyed. Linear-non-linear (LN) models including multiple subunits performed better than those made with just one; further each subunit encoded different visual information. Model performance for reticular cells was always lesser than for relay cells, however, indicating that reticular cells process inputs non-linearly. All told, our results suggest that the perigeniculate encodes diverse visual features to selectively modulate activity transmitted downstream.

Inhibitory circuits for visual processing in thalamus

Synapses made by local interneurons dominate the intrinsic circuitry of the mammalian visual thalamus and influence all signals traveling from the eye to cortex. Here we draw on physiological and computational analyses of receptive fields in the cat's lateral geniculate nucleus to describe how inhibition helps to enhance selectivity for stimulus features in space and time and to improve the efficiency of the neural code. Further, we explore specialized synaptic attributes of relay cells and interneurons and discuss how these might be adapted to preserve the temporal precision of retinal spike trains and thereby maximize the rate of information transmitted downstream.

Synaptic organization of the tectorecipient zone of the rat lateral posterior nucleus

Dorsal thalamic nuclei have been categorized as either "first-order" nuclei that gate the transfer of relatively unaltered signals from the periphery to the cortex or "higher order" nuclei that transfer signals from one cortical area to another. To classify the tectorecipient lateral posterior (LPN), we examined the synaptic organization of tracer-labeled cortical and tectal terminals and terminals labeled with antibodies against the type 1 and type 2 vesicular glutamate transporters (vGLUT1 and vGLUT2) within the caudal/lateral LPN of the rat. For this zone, we found that all tracer-labeled cortical terminals, as well as vGLUT1 antibody-labeled terminals, are small profiles with round vesicles (RS profiles) that innervate small-caliber dendrites. Tracer-labeled tecto-LPN terminals, as well as vGLUT2 antibody-labeled terminals, were medium-sized profiles with round vesicles (RM profiles). Tecto-LPN terminals were significantly larger than cortico-LPN terminals and contacted significantly larger dendrites. These results indicate that, within the tectorecipient zone of the rat LPN, cortical terminals are located distal to tectal terminals and that vGLUT1 and vGLUT2 antibodies may be used as markers for cortical and tectal terminals, respectively. Finally, comparisons of the synaptic patterns formed by tracer-labeled terminals with those of vGLUT antibody-labeled terminals suggest that individual LPN neurons receive input from multiple cortical and tectal axons. We suggest that the tectorecipient LPN constitutes a third category of thalamic nucleus ("second-order") that integrates convergent tectal and cortical inputs. This organization may function to signal the movement of novel or threatening objects moving across the visual field.

Distribution and structure of efferent synapses in the chicken retina

The visual system of birds includes an efferent projection from a visual area, the isthmo-optic nucleus in the midbrain, back to the retina. Using a combination of anterograde labeling of efferent fibers, reconstruction of dye-filled neurons, NADPH-diaphorase staining, and transmission electron microscopy, we have examined the distribution of efferent fibers and their synaptic structures in the chicken retina. We show that efferent fibers terminate strictly within the ventral retina. In two completely mapped retinas, only 2 fibers from a total of 15,359 terminated in the dorsal retina. The major synapse made by each efferent fiber is with a single efferent target amacrine cell (TC). This synapse consists of 5-25 boutons of 2 microm diameter, each with multiple active zones, pressed into the TC soma or synapsing with a basketwork of rudimentary TC dendrites in the inner nuclear layer (INL). This basketwork, which is sheathed by Muller cell processes, defines a private neuropil in the INL within which TCs were also seen to receive input from retinal neurons. In addition to the major synapse, efferent fibers typically produce several very thin processes that terminate nearby in single small boutons and for which the soma of a local amacrine cell is one of the likely postsynaptic partners. A minority of efferent fibers also give rise to a thicker process, terminating in a strongly diaphorase-positive ball about 5 microm in diameter.

Ultrastructural examination of diffuse and specific tectopulvinar projections in the tree shrew

Two pathways from the superior colliculus (SC) to the tree shrew pulvinar nucleus have been described, one in which the axons terminate in dense (or specific) patches and one in which the axon arbors are more diffusely organized (Luppino et al. [1988] J. Comp. Neurol. 273:67-86). As predicted by Lyon et al. ([2003] J. Comp. Neurol. 467:593-606), we found that anterograde labeling of the diffuse tectopulvinar pathway terminated in the acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-rich dorsal pulvinar (Pd), whereas the specific pathway terminated in the AChE-poor central pulvinar (Pc). Injections of retrograde tracers in Pd labeled non-gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic wide-field vertical cells located in the lower stratum griseum superficiale and stratum opticum of the medial SC, whereas injections in Pc labeled similar cells in more lateral regions. At the ultrastructural level, we found that tectopulvinar terminals in both Pd and Pc contact primarily non-GABAergic dendrites. When present, however, synaptic contacts on GABAergic profiles were observed more frequently in Pc (31% of all contacts) compared with Pd (16%). Terminals stained for the type 2 vesicular glutamate transporter, a potential marker of tectopulvinar terminals, also contacted more GABAergic profiles in Pc (19%) compared with Pd (4%). These results provide strong evidence for the division of the tree shrew pulvinar into two distinct tectorecipient zones. The potential functions of these pathways are discussed.

Two differential frequency-dependent mechanisms regulating tonic firing of thalamic reticular neurons

Transmission through the thalamus activates circuits involving the GABAergic neurons of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN). TRN cells receive excitatory inputs from thalamocortical and corticothalamic cells and send inhibitory projections to thalamocortical cells. The inhibitory output of TRN neurons largely depends on the level of excitatory drive to these cells but may also be partly under the control of mechanisms intrinsic to the TRN. We examined two such possible mechanisms, short-term plasticity at glutamatergic synapses in the TRN and intra-TRN inhibition. In rat brain slices, responses of TRN neurons to brief trains of stimuli applied to glutamatergic inputs were recorded in voltage- or current-clamp mode. In voltage clamp, TRN cells showed no change in alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic current amplitudes to stimulation at non-gamma frequencies (< 30 Hz), simulating background activity, but exhibited short-term depression in these amplitudes to stimulation at gamma frequencies (> 30 Hz), simulating sensory transmission. In current clamp, TRN cells increased their spike outputs in burst and tonic firing modes to increasing stimulus-train frequencies. These increases in spike output were most likely due to temporal summation of excitatory postsynaptic potentials. However, the frequency-dependent increase in tonic firing was attenuated at gamma stimulus frequencies, indicating that the synaptic depression selectively observed in this frequency range acts to suppress TRN cell output. In contrast, intra-TRN inhibition reduced spike output selectively at non-gamma stimulus frequencies. Thus, our data indicate that two intrinsic mechanisms play a role in controlling the tonic spike output of TRN neurons and these mechanisms are differentially related to two physiologically meaningful stimulus frequency ranges.

Synaptic organization of thalamocortical axon collaterals in the perigeniculate nucleus and dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus

We examined the synaptic targets of large non-gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic profiles that contain round vesicles and dark mitochondria (RLD profiles) in the perigeniculate nucleus (PGN) and the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN). RLD profiles can provisionally be identified as the collaterals of thalamocortical axons, because their ultrastrucure is distinct from all other previously described dLGN inputs. We also found that RLD profiles are larger than cholinergic terminals and contain the type 2 vesicular glutamate transporter. RLD profiles are distributed throughout the PGN and are concentrated within the interlaminar zones (IZs) of the dLGN, regions distinguished by dense binding of Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA). To determine the synaptic targets of thalamocortical axon collaterals, we examined RLD profiles in the PGN and dLGN in tissue stained for GABA. For the PGN, we found that all RLD profiles make synaptic contacts with GABAergic PGN somata, dendrites, and spines. In the dLGN, RLD profiles primarily synapse with GABAergic dendrites that contain vesicles (F2 profiles) and non-GABAergic dendrites in glomerular arrangements that include triads. Occasional synapses on GABAergic somata and proximal dendrites were also observed in the dLGN. These results suggest that correlated dLGN activity may be enhanced via direct synaptic contacts between thalamocortical cells, whereas noncorrelated activity (such as that occurring during binocular rivalry) could be suppressed via thalamocortical collateral input to PGN cells and dLGN interneurons.

Metabotropic glutamate receptors as a strategic target for the treatment of epilepsy

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that has many known types, including generalized epilepsies that involve cortical and subcortical structures. A proportion of patients have seizures that are resistant to traditional anti-epilepsy drugs, which mainly target ion channels or postsynaptic receptors. This resistance to conventional therapies makes it important to identify novel targets for the treatment of epilepsy. Given the involvement of the neurotransmitter glutamate in the etiology of epilepsy, targets that control glutamatergic neurotransmission are of special interest. The metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are of a family of eight G-protein-coupled receptors that serve unique regulatory functions at synapses that use the neurotransmitter glutamate. Their distribution within the central nervous system provides a platform for both presynaptic control of glutamate release, as well as postsynaptic control of neuronal responses to glutamate. In recent years, substantial efforts have been made towards developing selective agonists and antagonists which may be useful for targeting specific receptor subtypes in an attempt to harness the therapeutic potential of these receptors. We examine the possibility of intervening at these receptors by considering the specific example of absence seizures, a form of generalized, non-convulsive seizure that involves the thalamus. Views of the etiology of absence seizures have evolved over time from the "centrencephalic" concept of a diffuse subcortical pacemaker toward the "cortical focus" theory in which cortical hyperexcitability leads the thalamus into the 3-4 Hz rhythms that are characteristic of absence seizures. Since the cortex communicates with the thalamus via a massive glutamatergic projection, ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR) blockade has held promise, but the global nature of iGluR intervention has precluded the clinical effectiveness of drugs that block iGluRs. In contrast, mGluRs, because they modulate iGluRs at glutamatergic synapses only under certain conditions, may quell seizure activity by selectively reducing hyperactive glutamatergic synaptic communication within the cortex and thalamus without significantly affecting normal response rates. In this article, we review the circuitry and events leading to absence seizure generation within the corticothalamic network, we present a comprehensive review of the synaptic location and function of mGluRs within the thalamus and cerebral cortex, and review the current knowledge of mGluR modulation and seizure generation. We conclude by reviewing the potential advantages of Group II mGluRs, specifically mGluR2, in the treatment of both convulsive and non-convulsive seizures.

Differential response dynamics of corticothalamic glutamatergic synapses in the lateral geniculate nucleus and thalamic reticular nucleus

The corticothalamic feedback pathway provides excitatory synaptic input to both the thalamic reticular nucleus and the lateral geniculate nucleus. We studied excitatory postsynaptic currents elicited from corticothalamic stimulation in the visual sector of the thalamic reticular nucleus and the lateral geniculate nucleus to compare the response of these neurons to stimulation of their common input pathway. Using whole cell patch clamp recordings in ferret thalamic slices, we compared single excitatory postsynaptic current decay kinetics, presynaptic glutamate release dynamics through paired pulse facilitation and responses to corticothalamic train stimulation. We found that single thalamic reticular nucleus excitatory postsynaptic currents were significantly sharper than lateral geniculate nucleus responses. The mean thalamic reticular nucleus excitatory postsynaptic current decay constant (tau) was 4.9+/-0.5 ms, while the mean lateral geniculate nucleus excitatory postsynaptic current tau value was 11.8+/-0.8 ms. Presynaptic release dynamics as measured by responses to paired stimuli were conserved between the thalamic reticular nucleus and lateral geniculate nucleus. However, facilitating responses to train stimulation were markedly different between nuclei. Lateral geniculate nucleus responses showed proportionately larger facilitation (reaching 842.9 +/- 76.4% of excitatory postsynaptic current 1 amplitude) than thalamic reticular nucleus responses (reaching 223.1 +/- 44.0% of excitatory postsynaptic current 1 amplitude). These data indicate that while the corticothalamic pathway produces excitatory postsynaptic currents in both the thalamic reticular nucleus and lateral geniculate nucleus, other factors uniquely affect the functional integration of the inputs in each nucleus.

The differential distribution of the growth-associated protein-43 in first and higher order thalamic nuclei of the adult rat

Corticothalamic axons from layer 5 of primary and secondary auditory and visual areas have large terminals that make multiple synaptic contacts on proximal dendrites of relay cells in higher order thalamic nuclei and have been termed "driver" inputs. The corticothalamic cells express mRNA for the presynaptic growth-associated protein-43, in the adult rat [Feig SL (2004) Corticothalamic cells in layers 5 and 6 of primary and secondary sensory cortex express GAP-43 mRNA in the adult rat. J Comp Neurol 468:96-111]. In contrast, ascending driver afferents to first order nuclei (e.g. retinal, inferior collicular, and lemniscal) lose growth-associated protein-43 as mature synaptic terminals are established. Levels of immunoreactivity for growth-associated protein-43 are compared for first and higher order visual (lateral geniculate and lateral posterior), auditory (ventral and dorsal divisions of the medial geniculate), and somatosensory (ventral posterior and posterior) thalamic nuclei. At one week postnatal, staining for growth-associated protein-43 is uniform throughout first and higher order thalamic nuclei. By three weeks and thereafter, staining is denser in the higher order than first order thalamic nuclei. Electron microscopy shows growth-associated protein-43 in profiles with characteristics of afferents from layer 5 in LP and medial geniculate nucleus and no such label in retinal afferents in lateral geniculate nucleus. In these nuclei, approximately 25% of the profiles with characteristics of cortical afferents from layer 6 have label for growth-associated protein-43. The superficial layers of the superior colliculus also show growth-associated protein-43 positive profiles with characteristics of terminals from cortical layer 5. Some growth-associated protein-43 positive terminals were also positive for GABA in the thalamic nuclei studied and in the superior colliculus. The data suggest that sensory afferents to first order thalamocortical relays become stabilized once mature synaptic patterns are established, but the higher stages of information processing involving higher order thalamic relays, via cells in cortical layer 5, retain plasticity related to growth-associated protein-43 in the adult.

The thalamic reticular nucleus: structure, function and concept

On the basis of theoretical, anatomical, psychological and physiological considerations, Francis Crick (1984) proposed that, during selective attention, the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) controls the internal attentional searchlight that simultaneously highlights all the neural circuits called on by the object of attention. In other words, he submitted that during either perception, or the preparation and execution of any cognitive and/or motor task, the TRN sets all the corresponding thalamocortical (TC) circuits in motion. Over the last two decades, behavioural, electrophysiological, anatomical and neurochemical findings have been accumulating, supporting the complex nature of the TRN and raising questions about the validity of this speculative hypothesis. Indeed, our knowledge of the actual functioning of the TRN is still sprinkled with unresolved questions. Therefore, the time has come to join forces and discuss some recent cellular and network findings concerning this diencephalic GABAergic structure, which plays important roles during various states of consciousness. On the whole, the present critical survey emphasizes the TRN's complexity, and provides arguments combining anatomy, physiology and cognitive psychology.

Structure and connections of the thalamic reticular nucleus: Advancing views over half a century

The advance of knowledge of the thalamic reticular nucleus and its connections has been reviewed and Max Cowan's contributions to this knowledge and to the methods used for studying the nucleus have been summarized. Whereas 50 years ago the nucleus was seen as a diffusely organized cell group closely related to the brain stem reticular formation, it can now be seen as a complex, tightly organized entity that has a significant inhibitory, modulatory action on the thalamic relay to cortex. The nucleus is under the control, on the one hand, of topographically organized afferents from the cerebral cortex and the thalamus, and on the other of more diffuse afferents from brain stem, basal forebrain, and other regions. Whereas the second group of afferents can be expected to have global actions on thalamocortical transmission, relevant for overall attentive state, the former group will have local actions, modulating transmission through the thalamus to cortex with highly specific local effects. Since it appears that all areas of cortex and all parts of the thalamus are linked directly to the reticular nucleus, it now becomes important to define how the several pathways that pass through the thalamus relate to each other in their reticular connections.

Attention-dependent coupling between beta activities recorded in the cat's thalamic and cortical representations of the central visual field

We have previously proposed that enhanced 16-24 Hz (beta) local field potential activity in the primary visual cortex and lateral geniculate nucleus may be an electrophysiological correlate of the attentional mechanism that increases the gain of afferent visual information flow to the cortex. In this study, we measured coupling between beta signals recorded in the thalamic (i.e. lateral geniculate or perigeniculate) and cortical representations of the central visual field (within 5 degrees from area centralis), during visual and auditory attentive situations. Signal coupling was calculated in two ways: (i) by means of crosscorrelation between raw beta activities, which depends primarily on phase coherence, and (ii) by phase-independent crosscorrelation between amplitude envelopes of beta activities. Mean amplitudes of raw signal cross correlations obtained for thalamo-cortical recording pairs were not significantly different when calculated during behavioural demands for either visual or auditory attention. In contrast, amplitudes of envelope cross correlations obtained during behaviour requiring visual attention were, on average, two times higher than those calculated during the auditory task. This attention-related coupling emerged from synchronized amplitude modulation of beta oscillatory activity that occurs within the cortico-thalamic circuit involved in central vision.

Inhibitory interactions between ferret thalamic reticular neurons

The thalamic reticular nucleus (nRt) provides an important inhibitory input to thalamic relay nuclei and is central in the generation of both normal and abnormal thalamocortical activities. Although local inhibitory interactions between these neurons may play an important role in controlling thalamocortical activities, the physiological features of this interaction have not been fully investigated. Here we sought to establish the nature of inhibitory interaction between nRt neurons with intracellular and extracellular recordings in slices of ferret nRt maintained in vitro. In many nRt neurons, intracellular recordings revealed spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs). In addition, the local excitation of nRt cells with glutamate led to the generation of IPSPs in the intracellularly recorded nRt neuron. These evoked IPSPs exhibited an average reversal potential of -72 mV and could be blocked by picrotoxin, a GABA(A)-receptor antagonist. These results indicate that nRt neurons interact locally through the activation of GABA(A) receptor-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. This lateral inhibition may play an important role in controlling the responsiveness of these cells to cortical and thalamic excitatory inputs in both normal and abnormal thalamocortical function.

Synaptic targets of thalamic reticular nucleus terminals in the visual thalamus of the cat

A major inhibitory input to the dorsal thalamus arises from neurons in the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), which use gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as a neurotransmitter. We examined the synaptic targets of TRN terminals in the visual thalamus, including the A lamina of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), the medial interlaminar nucleus (MIN), the lateral posterior nucleus (LP), and the pulvinar nucleus (PUL). To identify TRN terminals, we injected biocytin into the visual sector of the TRN to label terminals by anterograde transport. We then used postembedding immunocytochemical staining for GABA to distinguish TRN terminals as biocytin-labeled GABA-positive terminals and to distinguish the postsynaptic targets of TRN terminals as GABA-negative thalamocortical cells or GABA-positive interneurons. We found that, in all nuclei, the TRN provides GABAergic input primarily to thalamocortical relay cells (93-100%). Most of this input seems targeted to peripheral dendrites outside of glomeruli. The TRN does not appear to be a significant source of GABAergic input to interneurons in the visual thalamus. We also examined the synaptic targets of the overall population of GABAergic axon terminals (F1 profiles) within these same regions of the visual thalamus and found that the TRN contacts cannot account for all F1 profiles. In addition to F1 contacts on the dendrites of thalamocortical cells, which presumably include TRN terminals, another population of F1 profiles, most likely interneuron axons, provides input to GABAergic interneuron dendrites. Our results suggest that the TRN terminals are ideally situated to modulate thalamocortical transmission by controlling the response mode of thalamocortical cells.

Changes in response modulation of cat perigeniculate neurons related to EEG state and application of neuromodulators

Spike activity of single perigeniculate (PGN) neurons was recorded in the anaesthetized (N2O/halothane) and paralysed cat during presentation of moving gratings of optimal spatial frequency. Typically, the ongoing (tonic, spontaneous) activity of PGN cells increased during a rise in EEG delta power accompanied by a reduction and often a total loss of spike rate modulation by the moving grating. The opposite behaviour was found when the EEG delta power vanished. Micro-iontophoretically applied acetylcholine (ACh) had an effect similar to a decrease in EEG delta power, decreasing ongoing activity but increasing the response modulation depth. The opposite effect could be achieved with the excitatory action of serotonin (5-HT), mimicking a strengthened EEG delta power. These data support previous data indicating that PGN neurons contribute to spatio-temporal tuning of subcortical visual activity in a state-dependent way.

Amblyopia decreases activation of the corticogeniculate pathway and visual thalamic reticularis in attentive rats: a 'focal attention' hypothesis

In rats which were rendered monocular amblyopic by lid suturing one eye during a critical period, the intensity of neuronal activation in parts of the monocular segments of the striate cortex (layers 4 and 6) and lateral geniculate nucleus, and in the visual segment of the thalamic reticular nucleus, was determined after exploration of a novel-complex environment. Quantitative analysis of the number of Fos-labelled neurons per unit area showed that, in comparison to the structures contralateral to the normal eye, in the side contralateral to the deprived amblyopic eye there is a gradient of diminished activation. The strongest activation asymmetry was observed in the visual reticular segment, while in layers 6 and 4 of the visual cortex the activation asymmetry was less strong and weakest, respectively. In the lateral geniculate there was no Fos-detectable activation asymmetry. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the time rats spent in exploration and the degree of activation asymmetry in the visual reticular segment. From these results it is concluded: (1) Activation of the visual segment of the thalamic reticular nucleus in the alert, attentive animal is predominantly under visual cortical control via the cortico-reticulo-geniculate pathway originating in layer 6, because this layer showed activation asymmetry while the other visual input to reticularis, the geniculate, did not show this asymmetry. (2) Activation of the visual reticularis is a function of attention to the environment because its activation asymmetry was correlated to the amount of exploratory attentional behaviour. (3) Diminished activity in the cortico-reticulo-geniculate pathway originating in layer 6, and of visual reticularis, caused by visual deprivation during the critical period should be considered as additional etiological factors of the resulting amblyopia. The functional significance of these results is explained by a 'focal attention' hypothesis postulating that the observed activation of visual reticularis in exploring animals is necessarily a reflection of activation of the corticogeniculate pathway, because these axons innervate both the geniculate and the visual reticular segment. Mechanistically, a focus of animal's attention is transmitted in a top-down fashion from the extrastriate cortex, and from upper cortical layers, into striate cortex layer 6. In turn, activation of layer 6 cells corresponding to attentional foci generates a core of excitation in the geniculate by the direct glutamatergic corticogeniculate axons, and a surround inhibition by the disynaptic cortico-reticulo-geniculate (ultimately GABAergic) pathway. In the temporal domain, in light of recent results, activation of thalamic reticular nucleus visual segment will contribute to the induction of gamma oscillations in geniculocortical pathways and in their cortical targets. All together, these interactions result in increased effectiveness of thalamocortical transmission of features from the focalized visual scene. The postulated attention-dependent spatiotemporal influences on thalamocortical transmission would be a main function of the corticothalamic pathways in the awake, attentive animal.

Distribution of L-type calcium channels in rat thalamic neurones

One major pathway for calcium entry into neurones is through voltage-activated calcium channels. The distribution of calcium channels over the membrane surface is important for their contribution to neuronal function. Electrophysiological recordings from thalamic cells in situ and after acute isolation demonstrated the presence of high-voltage activated calcium currents. The use of specific L-type calcium channel agonists and antagonists of the dihydropyridine type revealed an about 40% contribution of L-type channels to the total high-voltage-activated calcium current. In order to localize L-type calcium channels in thalamic neurones, fluorescent dihydropyridines were used. They were combined with the fluorescent dye RH414, which allowed the use of a ratio technique and thereby the determination of channel density. The distribution of L-type channels was analysed in the three main thalamic cell types: thalamocortical relay cells, local interneurones and reticular thalamic neurones. While channel density was highest in the soma and decreased significantly in the dendritic region, channels appeared to be clustered differentially in the three types of cells. In thalamocortical cells, L-type channels were clustered in high density around the base of dendrites, while they were more evenly distributed on the soma of interneurones. Reticular thalamic neurones exhibited high density of L-type channels in more central somatic regions. The differential localization of L-type calcium channels found in this study implies their predominate involvement in the regulation of somatic and proximal dendritic calcium-dependent processes, which may be of importance for specific thalamic functions, such as those mediating the transition from rhythmic burst activity during sleep to single spike activity during wakefulness or regulating the relay of visual information.

Organization of the zona incerta in the macaque: an electron microscopic study

BACKGROUND

The zona incerta (ZI) receives projections from many telencephalic and brainstem structures. On the basis of its connectivity and physiology, this nucleus has been implicated in the control of saccadic eye movements. Because of the complexity of its afferent signals and its simple efferent signal, there must be much local interaction within the ZI to integrate these various afferents. The purpose of this study was to investigate, at the ultrastructural level, whether the ZI contains the anatomical substrata which could subserve the control of eye movements.

METHODS

Blocks of tissue from the ZI of macaque monkeys were prepared for electron microscopy using standard techniques. Some of these animals were taken specifically for electron microscopy. Others had received injections of tracer substances and were prepared for electron microscopy subsequent to tracer visualization.

RESULTS

Cell bodies of medium-large neurons were found in our preparations. They have large nucleoli and relatively small volumes of karyoplasm. Cell bodies and dendrites of all sizes have many synaptic contacts. Three types of synaptic profiles were found, designated Types 1, 2, and 3. Type 1 profiles are symmetrical and contact cell bodies and small dendrites. Type 2 profiles are thought to be presynaptic dendrites and may have symmetrical or asymmetrical contacts. Type 3 profiles are asymmetrical and primarily contact small dendrites. Many synapses contacted vesicle-containing profiles. In some cases, it was clear that these profiles participated in serial synapses on presumptive presynaptic dendrites. Other profiles appeared to be axoaxonic contacts.

CONCLUSIONS

Afferent and efferent signals are likely to be modulated extensively within the ZI. Therefore, there needs to be complex interactions between neuronal elements of the ZI and its afferents. This study demonstrates that this nucleus possesses the structural substrata to subserve diverse roles, such as the gating of saccadic eye movements.

Dendrodendritic and axoaxonic synapses in the thalamic reticular nucleus of the adult rat

Currently, it is believed that cell-cell communications occur in the thalamic reticular nucleus (RT) during thalamocortical operations, but the anatomical substrate underlying these intrinsic interactions has not been characterized fully in the rat yet. To further our knowledge on this issue, we stained juxtacellularly rat RT neurons with biocytin or Neurobiotin and examined their intrinsic axon collaterals and "axon-like processes" at both light and electron microscopic levels. Of 111 tracer-filled RT cells for which the axon could be followed from its origin up to the thalamus, 12 displayed short-range, poorly ramifying varicose local axon collaterals, which remained undistinguishable from parent distal dendrites, raising the question as to whether their varicosities were presynaptic terminals. Correlated light and electron microscopic observations of the proximal part of these intrinsic varicose axonal segments revealed that their varicosities and intervaricose segments were, in fact, postsynaptic structures contacted by a large number of boutons that, for the most, formed asymmetric synapses and were nonimmunoreactive for GABA. Similarly, the so-called "axon-like processes" stemming from the soma or dendrites also were identified as postsynaptic structures. Two unexpected observations were made in the course of this analysis. First, the hillock and initial segment of some RT axons were found to receive asymmetric synaptic inputs from GABA-negative terminals. Second, examination of serial ultrathin sections of dendritic bundles cut in their longitudinal plane revealed the existence of several short symmetric dendrodendritic synapses and numerous puncta adhaerentia between component dendrites. In conclusion, dendrodendritic junctions might be a prominent anatomical substrate underlying interneuronal communications in the RT of the adult rat. Furthermore, excitatory axoaxonic synapses on the axon hillock, initial segment, and local axon collaterals might represent a powerful synaptic drive for synchronizing the firing of RT neurons. Future studies are essential to verify whether excitatory axoaxonic synapses with the axon hillock are a general feature in the RT.

GABAergic neurons in mammalian thalamus: a marker of thalamic complexity?

The present study evaluated the occurrence, distribution, and number of GABAergic neurons in the thalamus of different mammalian species (bat, mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, cat, monkey, humans), by means of light microscopical immunoenzymatic localization of GABA or of its biosynthetic enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase and by ultrastructural immunogold detection of GABA. Our data demonstrated that: 1) GABAergic local circuit neurons were detected in the thalamic visual domain in all the species analyzed, whereas in other thalamic nuclei their presence and number varied among species; 2) the number of GABAergic local circuit neurons progressively increased in the dorsal thalamus of species with more complex behavior; 3) the presence of local circuit neurons conferred a similar intrinsic organization to the dorsal thalamic nuclei, characterized by complex synaptic arrangements; 4) in the reticular thalamic nucleus, whose neurons were GABA-immunoreactive in all the examined species, the cellular density decreased from the bat to humans. These findings strongly suggest that thalamic GABAergic local circuit neurons are not directly related to the ability to perform specific sensorimotor tasks, but they are likely to reflect an increasing complexity of the local information processing that occurs at thalamic level.

Are the interlaminar zones of the ferret dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus actually part of the perigeniculate nucleus?

The ferret dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGNd) contains interneurons within the interlaminar zones situated between the laminae corresponding to the ipsi- and contralateral eyes. We found that a subset of these neurons exhibits electrophysiological properties similar to those previously reported for perigeniculate (PGN) neurons, including the generation of rhythmic sequences of rebound low-threshold Ca2+ spikes at a frequency of 1-4 Hz after the intracellular injection of a hyperpolarizing current pulse. These "PGN-like" interlaminar interneurons innervated restricted regions of the A-laminae, inhibited thalamocortical cells through GABAA, and perhaps GABAB, receptors, and were excited by axon collaterals from thalamocortical cells. This reciprocal relationship is identical to that formed by PGN cells and allowed the PGN-like interlaminar neurons to participate in the generation of spindle waves and other network oscillations. Pharmacologically, PGN-like interlaminar interneurons were also similar to PGN neurons: both generated a prolonged depolarization in response to the local application of serotonin, 1S,3R-ACPD, and CCK8S, and a rapid depolarization followed by a more prolonged hyperpolarization in response to acetylcholine. Examination of parvalbumin and calbindin staining in the ferret LGNd revealed that both PGN and a subset of interlaminar neurons were parvalbumin-positive. In contrast, calbindin-positive cells were relatively absent in the PGN and sparsely present in the interlaminar zones, but were numerous in the A and C laminae. Our results indicate that the interlaminar zone in between laminae A and A1 and A1 and C in the ferret LGNd possesses a cell type that is electrophysiologically, pharmacologically, anatomically, immunocytochemically, and functionally similar to neurons in the PGN.

The influence of nitric oxide on perigeniculate GABAergic cell activity in the anaesthetized cat

We have tested the effect of iontophoretic application of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-nitroarginine on the activity of a population of 53 perigeniculate (PGN) cells, recorded extracellularly in the anaesthetized paralysed cat. In all cells tested with visual stimulation during L-nitroarginine application (n = 15), the visually elicited responses were markedly reduced, on average by 63 +/- 15%, and there was a reduction in spontaneous activity too. This effect was blocked by co-application of the substrate for nitric oxide synthase, L-arginine, but not by the inactive D-isoform, although application of L-arginine alone was without effect. Pressure application of the nitric oxide donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) elevated both visual responses and spontaneous discharge, an effect also seen with a second nitric oxide donor, sodium nitroprusside (n = 12). The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-nitroarginine was applied to a sub-population of seven cells and it selectively decreased NMDA mediated excitation (reduction 80 +/- 14%) with little or no effect on the excitation mediated by alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA) or quisqualate (effects not statistically significant), and it had no effect (n = 7) on excitation mediated by the metabotropic agonist (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (ACPD). Furthermore, application of SNAP also increased the magnitude of excitatory responses mediated by NMDA receptors. On a different population of seven cells, application of the new NO donor diethylamine-nitric oxide (DEA-NO) enhanced the actions of NMDA without an effect on responses to AMPA. These effects are qualitatively and quantitatively similar to those we have previously described for X and Y type cells in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), despite the known opposite effects of acetylcholine (ACh) application in the dLGN and PGN (ACh is co-localized with nitric oxide synthase at both sites). We propose that within the PGN nitric oxide acts to enhance transmission utilizing NMDA receptors selectively (thereby interacting with the globally inhibiting effect of ACh at this site) to enhance visual responses, reducing or removing the non-specific inhibitory drive from PGN to dLGN seen in the spindling activity of slow-wave sleep. These effects will act in concert with the facilitatory actions of both ACh and nitric oxide within the dLGN proper, and will thereby enhance the faithful transmission of visual information from retina to cortex.

Interneurons containing calretinin are specialized to control other interneurons in the rat hippocampus

Spine-free calretinin-immunoreactive (CR-IR) interneurons form a subpopulation of GABAergic cells in the rat hippocampus. A characteristic feature of these cells--located in all areas and layers--is the frequent dendro-dendritic and axo-dendritic contacts they form with each other. In this study we examined in detail the connectivity of these neurons by reconstructing their dendritic and axonal arbor and by identifying their postsynaptic targets. Radially running dendrites of CR-IR cells, located in different layers, intermingled into long braids. An average cell was in contact with dendrites of three to seven other CR-IR cells. Reconstruction of the dendritic trees from six consecutive sections demonstrated that at least 15 cells may participate in a dendro-dendritically connected cluster. Electron microscopical examination revealed that regularly spaced zonula adherentia connect the touching dendrites. The postsynaptic targets of CR-IR neurons have been examined using postembedding immunogold staining for GABA. CR-containing GABA-immunoreactive axons of local origin formed multiple symmetrical synaptic contacts (two to five) exclusively on GABAergic dendrites (CR-negative as well as CR-positive). Two to 10 CR-IR axons may converge onto a single CR-IR neuron, often from cells belonging to the same dendro-dendritically connected cluster. Using double immunocytochemistry, CR-IR cells were shown to heavily innervate calbindin D28k-containing interneurons and VIP-containing basket cells but avoided the parvalbumin-containing basket and axo-axonic cells. The unique connectivity of CR-IR cells may enable them to play a crucial role in the generation of synchronous, rhythmic hippocampal activity by controlling other interneurons terminating on different dendritic and somatic compartments of principal cells.

Organization in the somatosensory sector of the cat's thalamic reticular nucleus

This study describes the organization of cells in the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) that project to the somatosensory part of the dorsal thalamus in the cat. Injections of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) and fluorescent dyes were made into the ventrobasal complex (VB) and the medial division of the posterior complex (POm) of the thalamus. The resultant retrograde labelling in TRN was analyzed. Large injections of a tracer in VB label many reticular cells that are restricted to a centroventral, or somatosensory, sector of TRN. Small injections of a tracer in VB produce narrow zones of labelled cells in this sector. In reconstructions these zones resemble thin "slabs," which lie parallel to the plane of TRN along its oblique rostrocaudal dimension and occupy only a fraction of its thickness. In comparisons of the zones of labelled cells in TRN resulting from tracer injections in different nuclei of VB, inner cells, intermediate cells, and outer cells across the thickness of TRN project to the ventral posteromedial, the medial division of the ventral posterolateral, and the lateral division of the ventral posterolateral nuclei, respectively. Furthermore, shifts in injected areas along the dorsoventral dimension of VB produce similar shifts in zones of labelled cells in TRN. Thus, reticular cells form an accurate map on the basis of their connections with VB. Large injections of a tracer in the ventral subdivision of POm label many reticular cells that are also restricted to the centroventral sector of TRN. Small injections of a tracer in ventral POm produce broad zones of labelled cells in this sector. In comparisons of the zones of labelled cells in TRN resulting from tracer injections in different regions of ventral POm, cells that project to these regions are scattered across the thickness of TRN and occupy overlapping territories. Large injections of a tracer in either VB or ventral POm also label cells in a restricted centroventral region of the perireticular nucleus. Double injections of different tracers in VB and ventral POm produce many cells in TRN that are labelled from both of these dorsal thalamic structures and fewer cells that are labelled from only one or the other of these structures. These results indicate that there is a dual organization in the projections of cells in the somatosensory sector of TRN to dorsal thalamus: Projections to VB are topographically organized whereas those to ventral POm lack a topographical organization. Furthermore, both of these mapped and nonmapped projections can arise from single reticular cells in the somatosensory sector.

Fine structure of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the turtle, Emys orbicularis: a Golgi, combined HRP tracing and GABA immunocytochemical study

The afferent and efferent cortical projections of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (GLD) of adult specimens of the turtle Emys orbicularis were investigated after intraocular or intracortical injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and the distribution of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) immunoreactivity in the nucleus was carried out by immunocytochemical techniques, both techniques being combined with light and electron microscopy. In addition, some specimens were prepared for double-labeling of HRP and GABA immunoreactivity, and additional samples impregnated by a rapid Golgi technique. On purely morphological grounds, four types of neurons can be distinguished by light microscopy: two types of large cells in the cell plate which project to the cortex, and two types of smaller cells in the neuropil and optic tract which do not. The small cells are consistently GABA-immunoreactive, while the former are, with extremely rare exceptions, immunonegative for GABA. The supposition that the small neurons of the neuropil are interneurons is supported by electron microscopic observations; these strongly GABA-immunoreactive cells have large plicated nuclei surrounded by a thin layer of cytoplasm poorly endowed with organelles. The dendrites of these cells may contain pleomorphic synaptic vesicles (DCSVs) and appear to be presynaptic to other dendritic profiles. These DCSVs are occasionally contacted by GABA-immunoreactive axon terminals, and more frequently by retinal terminals consistently immunonegative for GABA. The latter, frequently organized in glomeruli, also make synaptic contacts with immunonegative dendrites arising from corticopetal neurons of the cell plate. Two major categories of GABA-immunoreactive axon terminals can be distinguished, and we are led to the conclusion that one of these represents an intrinsic GABAergic innervation of the GLD, while the second is tentatively interpreted as an extrinsic source of GABA to the nucleus, possibly from ventral thalamic structures. The fine structure of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of Emys orbicularis thus shows many similarities with that of mammals.

Synaptic distribution of afferents from reticular nucleus in ventroposterior nucleus of cat thalamus

This study was aimed at determining the synaptic circuitry that contributes to the alterations in thalamic function that accompany changes in behavioral states. The somatosensory sector of the thalamic reticular nucleus (RTN) was identified by microelectrode recording in cats and injected with Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin (PHA-L). The axons of labeled RTN cells gave rise to collaterals within the RTN and continued into the dorsal thalamus where they terminated predominately in the ventral posterior lateral nucleus (VPL). After small injections in the upper limb representation of RTN, most labeled terminations in VPL were confined to its medial part, suggesting the presence of a topographic organization in the projection. Terminations were concentrated in localized, focal aggregations of boutons. Combined electron microscopic immunocytochemistry, using immunogold labeling for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), showed that the PHA-L labeled boutons were GABA-positive terminals that ended in symmetrical synapses. Eighty-two percent of these synapses were on dendrites of relay neurons, 8.5% on dendrites of interneurons, and 9.3% on somata. The terminals of RTN axons form the majority of axon terminals ending in symmetrical synapses in VPL. Their concentration on relay neurons probably underlies the capacity of the RTN projection to reduce background activity of VPL relay neurons in the awake state and to maintain oscillatory behavior of these neurons in drowsiness and early phases of sleep.

Analysis of gamma-aminobutyric acidergic synaptic contacts in the thalamic reticular nucleus of the monkey

Gamma-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) neurons in the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) spontaneously generate a synchronous bursting rhythm during slow-wave sleep in most mammals. A previous study at the electron microscopic level in cat anterior TRN has suggested that synchronous bursting activity could result from the large number of presumably GABAergic dendrodendritic synaptic contacts. However, little is known about the synaptology of the monkey thalamic reticular nucleus and whether it contains dendrodendritic contacts. To address this issue, we examined tissue obtained from Macaca fascicularis that was prepared for electron microscopy using postembedding techniques to demonstrate GABA immunoreactivity. Examination of the anterior (motor) and posterior (somatosensory) portions of the TRN disclosed the following: The majority of synaptic contacts (87.5% of 958) were formed by axon terminals showing no GABA immunoreactivity and making asymmetric synaptic contacts on dendrites or cell bodies. A further 6.4% of synaptic contacts was composed of GABA-immunoreactive presynaptic terminals making symmetric contacts with the dendrites of TRN neurons. The majority resembled the pleomorphic vesicle containing F-terminals seen in the dorsal thalamus and known to originate from axons of TRN. A subset or possible second class did not resemble any previously described class of GABA-immunoreactive terminals in the TRN. Both classes of these terminals making symmetric contacts may originate wholly or partially within the nucleus. There was one dendrodendritic synaptic contact and only a small number (3.2%) of axodendritic contacts with synaptic vesicles visible both pre- and postsynaptically. We conclude that dendrodendritic contacts are probably not responsible for the synchronized bursting neuronal activity seen in the slow-wave sleep of monkeys, and that, if TRN neurons are coupled synaptically, the most likely mechanism is through the synapses formed by recurrent axon collaterals of TRN neurons onto TRN dendrites.

Quantitative electron microscopic analysis of synaptic input from cortical areas 17 and 18 to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus in cats

Cortical feedback is the largest extraretinal projection to the lateral geniculate nucleus. This input is thought to modulate the transfer of visual information in a state-dependent manner. The quantitative distribution and synaptology of axon terminals arising from different cortical areas is still an unsolved question. To address this problem, the synaptic termination pattern of corticogeniculate axons from cortical areas 17 and 18 entering the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat was examined. The Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin anterograde tract tracing method was used for the labeling of corticogeniculate terminals. Postsynaptic targets were characterized by postembedding gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) immunocytochemistry. In both laminae A and A1, labeled corticogeniculate axons from area 17 established synaptic contacts with GABA-immunopositive, interneuronal dendritic profiles more frequently (17.5% of all axons) than did labeled axon terminals from area 18 (7% of axons). Conversely, 76% of labeled corticogeniculate axons from area 17, as opposed to 87% of labeled axons from area 18, terminated on GABA-immunonegative relay cell dendrites. Furthermore, the mean diameter of GABA-negative relay cell dendrites postsynaptic to labeled axons from area 17 was significantly smaller than the diameter of relay cell dendrites synapsing with labeled terminals from area 18. These results indicate that the corticogeniculate axons from cortical areas 17 and 18 exhibit different synaptic termination patterns in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat, suggesting that these two projections may subserve different functions in visual information processing.

GABAergic projection from the basal forebrain to the visual sector of the thalamic reticular nucleus in the cat

We examined the projection from the basal forebrain to thalamic and cortical regions of the visual system in cats, with particular reference to the visual sector of the thalamic reticular nucleus, the lateral geniculate nucleus, and the striate cortex. First, we made injections of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) into the visual sector of the thalamic reticular nucleus and found cells labeled by retrograde transport in the lateral nucleus basalis magnocellularis. Injection of biocytin into the basal forebrain resulted in the anterograde labeling of a dense band of fibers and terminals within the entire thalamic reticular nucleus; this labeling extended through the visual sector including the perigeniculate nucleus. No orthograde labeling was found in the lateral geniculate nucleus. Next, we addressed the issue of putative neurotransmitters used by this pathway using a variety of immunocytochemical and histochemical markers. In this fashion, we identified two populations of cells in the nucleus basalis magnocellularis of the cat; large cholinergic cells that contain choline acetyltransferase, NADPH-diaphorase, and calbindin and that project to striate cortex and smaller cells that contain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamic acid decarboxylase, and parvalbumin and that project to the visual sector of the thalamic reticular nucleus. We also examined at the electron microscopic level terminals in the visual sector of the thalamic reticular nucleus that were labeled from a biocytin injection in the basal forebrain. Most of these terminals form symmetric contacts onto dendrites and were revealed by postembedding immunocytochemical staining to be positive for GABA.

Modulation of dorsal thalamic cell activity by the ventral pallidum: its role in the regulation of thalamocortical activity by the basal ganglia

The actions mediated by limbic system output projections of the basal ganglia were investigated by studying the effects of ventral pallidum (VP) stimulation on the activity of neurons in thalamic target nuclei, including several of the dorsal thalamic nuclei and the nucleus reticularis, using in vivo intracellular recordings in rats. Intracellular injection of Lucifer yellow was used in a subset of experiments to identify the neurons recorded and to confirm their location with respect to the specific thalamic nuclei targeted. Stimulation of the VP evoked ipsps in 79% of the mediodorsal cells recorded. In the reticular nucleus, 73% of the neurons tested responded with evoked ipsps. In contrast, in other dorsal thalamic nuclei VP stimulation evoked depolarizations in 58% of the cells recorded. The latency to onset of the ipsps in the mediodorsal nucleus and in the reticular nucleus were not substantially different (1.7 +/- 1.1 msec vs. 2.7 +/- 1.1 msec), whereas the depolarizing response evoked in dorsal thalamic nucleus neurons typically occurred at longer and more variable latencies (3.5 +/- 2.7 msec). These experiments support a dual functional role for limbic system output from the basal ganglia in the regulation of thalamocortical activity: a) a direct inhibitory projection from the VP to the mediodorsal nucleus and b) an indirect disinhibition of neurons in other dorsal thalamic nuclei that occurs via a direct inhibitory projection to the reticular nucleus of the thalamus. Such an anatomical arrangement may be relevant to the presence of hypofrontality and the breakdown of cognitive filtering observed in schizophrenics.

GABAergic and pallidal terminals in the thalamic reticular nucleus of squirrel monkeys

The ultrastructure of synaptic terminals from the external segment of the globus pallidus and of other synaptic terminals positive for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was examined in the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) of squirrel monkeys. Two GABA-positive terminals types were commonly encountered within the TRN neuropil. The most common type of GABAergic terminals (F terminals) are filled with dispersed pleomorphic synaptic vesicles and clusters of mitochondria. These terminals establish multiple symmetric synapses upon the somata and dendrites of TRN neurons. The external pallidal terminals, labeled with WGA-HRP, arise from thinly myelinated axons and correspond to the medium to large F terminals. A less prevalent population of smaller GABAergic synaptic profiles was also identified. The synaptic profiles in this second group contain considerably fewer pleomorphic synaptic vesicles in small irregular clusters and fewer mitochondria, establish symmetric synapses, are postsynaptic to other axonal terminals, are presynaptic to dendrites and soma, and are unlabeled following pallidal injections of WGA-HRP.

The length-response properties of cells in the feline perigeniculate nucleus

Perigeniculate cells receive visual input from the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) and from the visual cortex. In contrast to the extensive literature documenting dLGN and cortical cell responses, comparatively little quantitative data exists for perigeniculate nucleus cells, and very little is known about the role of the corticofugal input to the perigeniculate nucleus. We have previously shown that dLGN relay cells have sharply length-tuned receptive fields and that a significant component of this is dependent on the corticofugal system. In this report, we have explored the length-response properties of perigeniculate nucleus cells in the presence and absence of corticofugal feedback. The response profiles of most perigeniculate nucleus cells contrasted markedly with the sharply length-tuned fields of dLGN cells, but exhibited a notable resemblance to those exhibited by VI cells with short summation lengths, which have recently been shown to constitute a considerable proportion of the layer VI cell population. This might suggest that the responses of perigeniculate nucleus cells to long bars derive from their cortical input. However, our data failed to reveal a discernible change in their profiles after removal of the corticofugal drive. This surprising observation implies that their length-tuning profiles follow from subcortical circuitry. The ways in which this might occur are discussed.

Quantitative immunogold evidence for enrichment of glutamate but not aspartate in synaptic terminals of retino-geniculate, geniculo-cortical, and cortico-geniculate axons in the cat

A postembedding immunogold procedure was used on thin sections of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and perigeniculate nucleus (PGN) of the cat to estimate qualitatively and quantitatively, at the electron-microscopic (EM) level, the intensity of glutamate or aspartate immunoreactivities on identifiable synaptic terminals and other profiles of the neuropil. On sections incubated with a glutamate antibody, terminals of retinal and cortical axons in the LGN, and of collaterals of geniculo-cortical axons in the PGN, contain significantly higher density of immunogold particles than GABAergic terminals, glial cells, dendrites, and cytoplasm of geniculate cells. By contrast, in sections incubated with an aspartate antibody, terminals of retino-geniculate, cortico-geniculate, and geniculo-cortical axons did not show a selective enrichment of immunoreactivity, but instead the density of immunogold particles was generally low in the different profiles of the neuropil, with the exception of nucleoli. These results suggest that glutamate, but not aspartate, is a neurotransmitter candidate in the retino-geniculo-cortical pathways.

LGN-projecting neurons of the cat's pretectum express glutamic acid decarboxylase mRNA

There have been conflicting reports on the chemical nature of the projection of the pretectal nuclei [nucleus of the optic tract and dorsal terminal nucleus of the accessory optic tract (NOT-DTN complex) and posterior pretectal nucleus] to the lateral geniculate nucleus and inferior olive. There is evidence that the pretecto-geniculate pathway is inhibitory. However, most attempts to verify the GABAergic nature of the projection neurons have failed. In order to answer this question, we employed a combination of retrograde transport and in situ hybridization. Rhodamine-labelled latex microspheres were injected into the electrophysiologically identified lateral geniculate nucleus. In addition, fluorescein-labelled latex microspheres were injected into the inferior olive. Retrograde axonal transport labelled large pretectal neurons. We then applied riboprobes specific for glutamic acid decarboxylase mRNA. We were able to demonstrate glutamic acid decarboxylase mRNA expression in up to 70% of lateral geniculate nucleus-projecting NOT-DTN and posterior pretectal nucleus neurons but in none of the pretecto-olivary projection neurons. The results suggest that the pretecto-geniculate projection is GABAergic in nature, which would confirm previous electrophysiological and morphological observations. The pretecto-olivary projection is not GABAergic.

Non-dominant suppression in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat: laminar differences and class specificity

Binocular non-dominant suppression (NDS) in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGNd) of the cat was studied by recording from single neurons in the LGNd of anaesthetized, paralysed cats while stimulating the non-dominant eye with a moving light bar. The maintained discharge rate of LGNd neurons was varied by stimulating the dominant eye in various ways: by varying the size or contrast of a flashed spot, by varying the inner diameter of a flashed annulus of large outer diameter, by varying the velocity of a moving light bar, and by covering the eye. Non-dominant suppression was quantified either as the decrease in the maintained discharge rate (the "dip"), expressed as spikes per second, or as the ratio of the dip to the maintained discharge rate (the "dip ratio"). At low maintained discharge rates the dip, although low in value, frequently approached the maintained rate, i.e. the dip ratio approached unity. As the maintained discharge rate increased the dip value also increased, but more slowly than the maintained discharge rate, i.e. the dip ratio decreased. At maintained discharge rates above about 30 spikes/s, in many neurons the dip appeared to be approaching a constant value. This strong dependence of NDS on the maintained discharge rate of the LGNd neuron suggests that the inhibitory input to the cell arises from a region of the brain that receives an input both from the non-dominant eye and from the LGNd cell. Reasons are given for thinking that this region is the perigeniculate nucleus. Because of the strong dependence of dip and dip ratio on the maintained discharge rate, it was necessary to adopt stringent criteria when comparing NDS in two different sets of neurons or of the same set of neurons in different conditions. We recognized a significant difference in NDS between two classes of neurons or between two states only if: (1) there was no significant difference between the maintained discharge rates, and (2) there was a significant difference for both dip and dip ratio between the two classes or states. Using these criteria we found: (1) no difference between non-lagged X (XNL) and non-lagged Y (YNL) cells, (2) no difference between on-centre and off-centre cells for either XNL or YNL cells, (3) no difference between XNL cells and lagged X (XL) cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Modulatory effects of acetylcholine, serotonin and noradrenaline on the activity of cat perigeniculate neurons

We studied the modulatory actions of microiontophoretically applied acetylcholine (ACH), serotonin (5-HT, 5-hydroxytryptamine) and noradrenaline (NA), and those of the adrenoceptor agonists phenylephrine (PHE, alpha 1), clonidine (CLO, alpha 2) and isoprenaline (ISO, beta) on spontaneous and visually induced activities in cat perigeniculate (PGN) and thalamic reticular (NRT) neurons (only spontaneous) during extracellular recordings performed in vivo. ACH and 5-HT were found to affect the ongoing (spontaneous) and visually evoked activity of PGN cells and also the spontaneous activity of NRT cells in an opposite fashion. ACH inhibited tonic firing and often induced burst activity. By contrast, 5-HT exerted an excitatory influence, which caused a long-lasting, very regular, high-frequency activity between about 35 and 120 Hz. Spontaneous as well as 5-HT-induced firing was found to prefer three distinct frequency ranges: 35-42 Hz, 60-67 Hz and 80-120 Hz. Opposite actions of ACH and 5-HT were also evident when applied simultaneously. ACH dampened the high-frequency activity elicited with 5-HT, and 5-HT could replace the burst activity induced with ACH application by a regular tonic activity. The absolute strength of visual responses (in spikes per second) was only slightly enhanced or reduced by ACH and 5-HT, respectively, but due to the strong effects on background activity, ACH clearly elevated the signal-to-noise ratio and 5-HT reduced it. Despite its excitatory action, 5-HT did not facilitate visual responses. Spontaneous changes in ongoing activity were found to affect the visual response amplitude in the same way. Noradrenaline, the alpha 1-agonist PHE and the beta-agonist ISO exerted a weak depressant action on high-frequency maintained activity, but during low-frequency single spike activity and/or burst activity a facilitatory effect was evident, which prevented the generation of burst discharges and slightly increased single spike firing. Visually evoked activity was little affected, but signal-to-noise ratio changed with changes in ongoing activity. The alpha 2-agonist CLO clearly attenuated both spontaneous activity and visual responses. We suggest that, in addition to direct effects of ACH and 5-HT on geniculate relay cells, the balance between the opposite actions of ACH and 5-HT on PGN cells determines the mode of operation in the recurrent inhibitory circuit: either a global, tonic inhibition of relay cells during a dominating 5-HT influence or a less tonic but phasic inhibition during increased activity in the cholinergic system.

Relay cells, not interneurons, of cat's lateral geniculate nucleus contain N-acetylaspartylglutamate

N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) is an endogenous brain dipeptide that satisfies many of the criteria for a neurotransmitter. We have previously identified NAAG immunoreactivity in neurons of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of the cat and monkey. To determine whether all LGN neurons contain NAAG, we treated sections of cat LGN with affinity-purified antibodies to NAAG and counterstained them with thionin. The larger neurons contained NAAG, but the smaller neurons did not. We treated other sections with antiserum to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), in order to label interneurons of the LGN. In these sections, the smaller cells were labeled; the larger neurons were not. We hypothesized that NAAG was present in relay cells, but not interneurons. We used two double-labeling paradigms to test this hypothesis. We combined immunocytochemistry for NAAG using a fluorescent secondary antibody with either (1) fluorescent retrograde tracers (true blue, granular blue, rhodamine beads, or propidium iodide) injected into areas 17 and/or 18 or (2) immunocytochemistry for GAD using a second fluorescent secondary antibody. In the LGN, over 99% of retrogradely labeled cells contained NAAG, but few GAD-positive neurons did. In contrast, neurons of the perigeniculate nucleus contained both NAAG and GAD, demonstrating that staining by one set of antisera did not inhibit staining by the other and that perigeniculate neurons are chemically distinct from the interneurons of the LGN. We conclude that in LGN, the relay cells, which project to visual cortex, contain NAAG, whereas most of the interneurons, which contain GABA, do not.

Spindle rhythmicity in the reticularis thalami nucleus: synchronization among mutually inhibitory neurons

The sleep spindle rhythm of thalamic origin (7-14 Hz) displays widespread synchronization among thalamic nuclei and over most of the neocortex. The mechanisms which mediate such global synchrony are not yet well understood. Here, we theoretically address the hypothesis of Steriade and colleagues that the reticularis thalami nucleus may be considered as a genuine pacemaker for thalamocortical spindles. Interestingly, the reticularis consists of a population of neurons which are GABAergic and synaptically coupled. These cells, as do thalamic relay cells, exhibit a transient depolarization following release from sustained hyperpolarization. This postinhibitory rebound property is due to a T-type calcium ionic current which is inactivated at rest but de-inactivated by hyperpolarization. Theoretically, rebound-capable cells coupled by inhibition can generate rhythmic activity, although such oscillations are usually alternating (out-of-phase), rather than synchronous (in-phase). Here, we develop and apply to Steriade's pacemaker hypothesis our earlier finding that mutual inhibition can in fact synchronize cells, provided that the postsynaptic conductance decays sufficiently slowly. Indeed, postsynaptic receptors of the GABAB subtype mediate inhibition with a large decay time-constant (approximately 200 ms). In contrast, chloride-dependent, GABAA-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic potentials are fast and brief. Both GABAA and GABAB receptor binding sites are present in most thalamic regions, including the reticularis. We suggest that if GABAB receptors exist postsynaptically in the reticularis, they may play a critical role in the rhythmic synchronization among reticular neurons, hence in the thalamocortical system.