Functional Properties of Dendritic Gap Junctions in Cerebellar Golgi Cells

The components of an electrical synapse as revealed by expansion microscopy of a single synaptic contact

Most nervous systems combine both transmitter-mediated and direct cell-cell communication, known as 'chemical' and 'electrical' synapses, respectively. Chemical synapses can be identified by their multiple structural components. Electrical synapses are, on the other hand, generally defined by the presence of a 'gap junction' (a cluster of intercellular channels) between two neuronal processes. However, while gap junctions provide the communicating mechanism, it is unknown whether electrical transmission requires the contribution of additional cellular structures. We investigated this question at identifiable single synaptic contacts on the zebrafish Mauthner cells, at which gap junctions coexist with specializations for neurotransmitter release and where the contact unequivocally defines the anatomical limits of a synapse. Expansion microscopy of these single contacts revealed a detailed map of the incidence and spatial distribution of proteins pertaining to various synaptic structures. Multiple gap junctions of variable size were identified by the presence of their molecular components. Remarkably, most of the synaptic contact's surface was occupied by interleaving gap junctions and components of adherens junctions, suggesting a close functional association between these two structures. In contrast, glutamate receptors were confined to small peripheral portions of the contact, indicating that most of the synaptic area functions as an electrical synapse. Thus, our results revealed the overarching organization of an electrical synapse that operates with not one, but multiple gap junctions, in close association with structural and signaling molecules known to be components of adherens junctions. The relationship between these intercellular structures will aid in establishing the boundaries of electrical synapses found throughout animal connectomes and provide insight into the structural organization and functional diversity of electrical synapses.

Gap Junctions May Have A Computational Function In The Cerebellum: A Hypothesis

In the cerebellum, granule cells make parallel fibre contact on (and excite) Golgi cells and Golgi cells inhibit granule cells, forming an open feedback loop. Parallel fibres excite Golgi cells synaptically, each making a single contact. Golgi cells inhibit granule cells in a structure called a glomerulus almost exclusively by GABA spillover acting through extrasynaptic GABAA receptors. Golgi cells are connected dendritically by gap junctions. It has long been suspected that feedback contributes to homeostatic regulation of parallel fibre signals activity, causing the fraction of the population that are active to be maintained at a low level. We present a detailed neurophysiological and computationally-rendered model of functionally grouped Golgi cells which can infer the density of parallel fibre signals activity and convert it into proportional modulation of inhibition of granule cells. The conversion is unlearned and not actively computed; rather, output is simply the computational effect of cell morphology and network architecture. Unexpectedly, the conversion becomes more precise at low density, suggesting that self-regulation is attracted to sparse code, because it is stable. A computational function of gap junctions may not be confined to the cerebellum.

When microscopy and electrophysiology meet connectomics-Steve Massey's contribution to unraveling the structure and function of the rod/cone gap junction

Electrical synapses, formed of gap junctions, are ubiquitous components of the central nervous system (CNS) that shape neuronal circuit connectivity and dynamics. In the retina, electrical synapses can create a circuit, control the signal-to-noise ratio in individual neurons, and support the coordinated neuronal firing of ganglion cells, hence, regulating signal processing at the network, single-cell, and dendritic level. We, the authors, and Steve Massey have had a long interest in gap junctions in retinal circuits, in general, and in the network of photoreceptors, in particular. Our combined efforts, based on a wide array of techniques of molecular biology, microscopy, and electrophysiology, have provided fundamental insights into the molecular structure and properties of the rod/cone gap junction. Yet, a full understanding of how rod/cone coupling controls circuit dynamics necessitates knowing its operating range. It is well established that rod/cone coupling can be greatly reduced or eliminated by bright-light adaptation or pharmacological treatment; however, the upper end of its dynamic range has long remained elusive. This held true until Steve Massey's recent interest for connectomics led to the development of a new strategy to assess this issue. The effort proved effective in establishing, with precision, the connectivity rules between rods and cones and estimating the theoretical upper limit of rod/cone electrical coupling. Comparing electrophysiological measurements and morphological data indicates that under pharmacological manipulation, rod/cone coupling can reach the theoretical maximum of its operating range, implying that, under these conditions, all the gap junction channels present at the junctions are open. As such, channel open probability is likely the main determinant of rod/cone coupling that can change momentarily in a time-of-day- and light-dependent manner. In this article we briefly review our current knowledge of the molecular structure of the rod/cone gap junction and of the mechanisms behind its modulation, and we highlight the recent work led by Steve Massey. Steve's contribution has been critical toward asserting the modulation depth of rod/cone coupling as well as elevating the rod/cone gap junction as one of the most suitable models to examine the role of electrical synapses and their plasticity in neural processing.

The components of an electrical synapse as revealed by expansion microscopy of a single synaptic contact

Most nervous systems combine both transmitter-mediated and direct cell-cell communication, known as 'chemical' and 'electrical' synapses, respectively. Chemical synapses can be identified by their multiple structural components. Electrical synapses are, on the other hand, generally defined by the presence of a 'gap junction' (a cluster of intercellular channels) between two neuronal processes. However, while gap junctions provide the communicating mechanism, it is unknown whether electrical transmission requires the contribution of additional cellular structures. We investigated this question at identifiable single synaptic contacts on the zebrafish Mauthner cells, at which gap junctions coexist with specializations for neurotransmitter release and where the contact defines the anatomical limits of a synapse. Expansion microscopy of these contacts revealed a detailed map of the incidence and spatial distribution of proteins pertaining to various synaptic structures. Multiple gap junctions of variable size were identified by the presence of their molecular components. Remarkably, most of the synaptic contact's surface was occupied by interleaving gap junctions and components of adherens junctions, suggesting a close functional association between these two structures. In contrast, glutamate receptors were confined to small peripheral portions of the contact, indicating that most of the synaptic area works as an electrical synapse. Thus, our results revealed the overarching organization of an electrical synapse that operates with not one, but multiple gap junctions, in close association with structural and signaling molecules known to be components of AJs. The relationship between these intercellular structures will aid in establishing the boundaries of electrical synapses found throughout animal connectomes and provide insight into the structural organization and functional diversity of electrical synapses.

Neurotransmitter content heterogeneity within an interneuron class shapes inhibitory transmission at a central synapse

Neurotransmitter content is deemed the most basic defining criterion for neuronal classes, contrasting with the intercellular heterogeneity of many other molecular and functional features. Here we show, in the adult mouse brain, that neurotransmitter content variegation within a neuronal class is a component of its functional heterogeneity. Golgi cells (GoCs), the well-defined class of cerebellar interneurons inhibiting granule cells (GrCs), contain cytosolic glycine, accumulated by the neuronal transporter GlyT2, and GABA in various proportions. By performing acute manipulations of cytosolic GABA and glycine supply, we find that competition of glycine with GABA reduces the charge of IPSC evoked in GrCs and, more specifically, the amplitude of a slow component of the IPSC decay. We then pair GrCs recordings with optogenetic stimulations of single GoCs, which preserve the intracellular transmitter mixed content. We show that the strength and decay kinetics of GrCs IPSCs, which are entirely mediated by GABAA receptors, are negatively correlated to the presynaptic expression of GlyT2 by GoCs. We isolate a slow spillover component of GrCs inhibition that is also affected by the expression of GlyT2, leading to a 56% decrease in relative charge. Our results support the hypothesis that presynaptic loading of glycine negatively impacts the GABAergic transmission in mixed interneurons, most likely through a competition for vesicular filling. We discuss how the heterogeneity of neurotransmitter supply within mixed interneurons like the GoC class may provide a presynaptic mechanism to tune the gain of microcircuits such as the granular layer, thereby expanding the realm of their possible dynamic behaviors.

Model simulations unveil the structure-function-dynamics relationship of the cerebellar cortical microcircuit

The cerebellar network is renowned for its regular architecture that has inspired foundational computational theories. However, the relationship between circuit structure, function and dynamics remains elusive. To tackle the issue, we developed an advanced computational modeling framework that allows us to reconstruct and simulate the structure and function of the mouse cerebellar cortex using morphologically realistic multi-compartmental neuron models. The cerebellar connectome is generated through appropriate connection rules, unifying a collection of scattered experimental data into a coherent construct and providing a new model-based ground-truth about circuit organization. Naturalistic background and sensory-burst stimulation are used for functional validation against recordings in vivo, monitoring the impact of cellular mechanisms on signal propagation, inhibitory control, and long-term synaptic plasticity. Our simulations show how mossy fibers entrain the local neuronal microcircuit, boosting the formation of columns of activity travelling from the granular to the molecular layer providing a new resource for the investigation of local microcircuit computation and of the neural correlates of behavior.

Cortical control of chandelier cells in neural codes

Various cortical functions arise from the dynamic interplay of excitation and inhibition. GABAergic interneurons that mediate synaptic inhibition display significant diversity in cell morphology, electrophysiology, plasticity rule, and connectivity. These heterogeneous features are thought to underlie their functional diversity. Emerging attention on specific properties of the various interneuron types has emphasized the crucial role of cell-type specific inhibition in cortical neural processing. However, knowledge is still limited on how each interneuron type forms distinct neural circuits and regulates network activity in health and disease. To dissect interneuron heterogeneity at single cell-type precision, we focus on the chandelier cell (ChC), one of the most distinctive GABAergic interneuron types that exclusively innervate the axon initial segments (AIS) of excitatory pyramidal neurons. Here we review the current understanding of the structural and functional properties of ChCs and their implications in behavioral functions, network activity, and psychiatric disorders. These findings provide insights into the distinctive roles of various single-type interneurons in cortical neural coding and the pathophysiology of cortical dysfunction.

On the Diverse Functions of Electrical Synapses

Electrical synapses are the neurophysiological product of gap junctional pores between neurons that allow bidirectional flow of current between neurons. They are expressed throughout the mammalian nervous system, including cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, retina, cerebellum, and inferior olive. Classically, the function of electrical synapses has been associated with synchrony, logically following that continuous conductance provided by gap junctions facilitates the reduction of voltage differences between coupled neurons. Indeed, electrical synapses promote synchrony at many anatomical and frequency ranges across the brain. However, a growing body of literature shows there is greater complexity to the computational function of electrical synapses. The paired membranes that embed electrical synapses act as low-pass filters, and as such, electrical synapses can preferentially transfer spike after hyperpolarizations, effectively providing spike-dependent inhibition. Other functions include driving asynchronous firing, improving signal to noise ratio, aiding in discrimination of dissimilar inputs, or dampening signals by shunting current. The diverse ways by which electrical synapses contribute to neuronal integration merits furthers study. Here we review how functions of electrical synapses vary across circuits and brain regions and depend critically on the context of the neurons and brain circuits involved. Computational modeling of electrical synapses embedded in multi-cellular models and experiments utilizing optical control and measurement of cellular activity will be essential in determining the specific roles performed by electrical synapses in varying contexts.

Analysis of rod/cone gap junctions from the reconstruction of mouse photoreceptor terminals

Electrical coupling, mediated by gap junctions, contributes to signal averaging, synchronization, and noise reduction in neuronal circuits. In addition, gap junctions may also provide alternative neuronal pathways. However, because they are small and especially difficult to image, gap junctions are often ignored in large-scale 3D reconstructions. Here, we reconstruct gap junctions between photoreceptors in the mouse retina using serial blockface-scanning electron microscopy, focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy, and confocal microscopy for the gap junction protein Cx36. An exuberant spray of fine telodendria extends from each cone pedicle (including blue cones) to contact 40-50 nearby rod spherules at sites of Cx36 labeling, with approximately 50 Cx36 clusters per cone pedicle and 2-3 per rod spherule. We were unable to detect rod/rod or cone/cone coupling. Thus, rod/cone coupling accounts for nearly all gap junctions between photoreceptors. We estimate a mean of 86 Cx36 channels per rod/cone pair, which may provide a maximum conductance of ~1200 pS, if all gap junction channels were open. This is comparable to the maximum conductance previously measured between rod/cone pairs in the presence of a dopamine antagonist to activate Cx36, suggesting that the open probability of gap junction channels can approach 100% under certain conditions.

A dynamic clamp protocol to artificially modify cell capacitance

Dynamics of excitable cells and networks depend on the membrane time constant, set by membrane resistance and capacitance. Whereas pharmacological and genetic manipulations of ionic conductances of excitable membranes are routine in electrophysiology, experimental control over capacitance remains a challenge. Here, we present capacitance clamp, an approach that allows electrophysiologists to mimic a modified capacitance in biological neurons via an unconventional application of the dynamic clamp technique. We first demonstrate the feasibility to quantitatively modulate capacitance in a mathematical neuron model and then confirm the functionality of capacitance clamp in in vitro experiments in granule cells of rodent dentate gyrus with up to threefold virtual capacitance changes. Clamping of capacitance thus constitutes a novel technique to probe and decipher mechanisms of neuronal signaling in ways that were so far inaccessible to experimental electrophysiology.

Intrinsic Sources and Functional Impacts of Asymmetry at Electrical Synapses

Electrical synapses couple inhibitory neurons across the brain, underlying a variety of functions that are modifiable by activity. Despite recent advances, many functions and contributions of electrical synapses within neural circuitry remain underappreciated. Among these are the sources and impacts of electrical synapse asymmetry. Using multi-compartmental models of neurons coupled through dendritic electrical synapses, we investigated intrinsic factors that contribute to effective synaptic asymmetry and that result in modulation of spike timing and synchrony between coupled cells. We show that electrical synapse location along a dendrite, input resistance, internal dendritic resistance, or directional conduction of the electrical synapse itself each alter asymmetry as measured by coupling between cell somas. Conversely, we note that asymmetrical gap junction (GJ) conductance can be masked by each of these properties. Furthermore, we show that asymmetry modulates spike timing and latency of coupled cells by up to tens of milliseconds, depending on direction of conduction or dendritic location of the electrical synapse. Coordination of rhythmic activity between two cells also depends on asymmetry. These simulations illustrate that causes of asymmetry are diverse, may not be apparent in somatic measurements of electrical coupling, influence dendritic processing, and produce a variety of outcomes on spiking and synchrony of coupled cells. Our findings highlight aspects of electrical synapses that should always be included in experimental demonstrations of coupling, and when assembling simulated networks containing electrical synapses.

The Amino Terminal Domain and Modulation of Connexin36 Gap Junction Channels by Intracellular Magnesium Ions

Electrical synapses between neurons in the mammalian CNS are predominantly formed of the connexin36 (Cx36) gap junction (GJ) channel protein. Unique among GJs formed of a number of other members of the Cx gene family, Cx36 GJs possess a high sensitivity to intracellular Mg²⁺ that can robustly act to modulate the strength of electrical synaptic transmission. Although a putative Mg²⁺ binding site was previously identified to reside in the aqueous pore in the first extracellular (E1) loop domain, the involvement of the N-terminal (NT) domain in the atypical response of Cx36 GJs to pH was shown to depend on intracellular levels of Mg²⁺. In this study, we examined the impact of amino acid substitutions in the NT domain on Mg²⁺ modulation of Cx36 GJs, focusing on positions predicted to line the pore funnel, which constitutes the cytoplasmic entrance of the channel pore. We find that charge substitutions at the 8th, 13th, and 18th positions had pronounced effects on Mg²⁺ sensitivity, particularly at position 13 at which an A13K substitution completely abolished sensitivity to Mg²⁺. To assess potential mechanisms of Mg²⁺ action, we constructed and tested a series of mathematical models that took into account gating of the component hemichannels in a Cx36 GJ channel as well as Mg²⁺ binding to each hemichannel in open and/or closed states. Simultaneous model fitting of measurements of junctional conductance, g_j, and transjunctional Mg²⁺ fluxes using a fluorescent Mg²⁺ indicator suggested that the most viable mechanism for Cx36 regulation by Mg²⁺ entails the binding of Mg²⁺ to and subsequent stabilization of the closed state in each hemichannel. Reduced permeability to Mg²⁺ was also evident, particularly for the A13K substitution, but homology modeling of all charge-substituted NT variants showed only a moderate correlation between a reduction in the negative electrostatic potential and a reduction in the permeability to Mg²⁺ ions. Given the reported role of the E1 domain in Mg²⁺ binding together with the impact of NT substitutions on gating and the apparent state-dependence of Mg²⁺ binding, this study suggests that the NT domain can be an integral part of Mg²⁺ modulation of Cx36 GJs likely through the coupling of conformational changes between NT and E1 domains.

The guide to dendritic spikes of the mammalian cortex in vitro and in vivo

Half a century since their discovery by Llinás and colleagues, dendritic spikes have been observed in various neurons in different brain regions, from the neocortex and cerebellum to the basal ganglia. Dendrites exhibit a terrifically diverse but stereotypical repertoire of spikes, sometimes specific to subregions of the dendrite. Despite their prevalence, we only have a glimpse into their role in the behaving animal. This article aims to survey the full range of dendritic spikes found in excitatory and inhibitory neurons, compare them in vivo versus in vitro, and discuss new studies describing dendritic spikes in the human cortex. We focus on dendritic spikes in neocortical and hippocampal neurons and present a roadmap to identify and understand the broader role of dendritic spikes in single-cell computation.

Extracellular vesicles: catching the light of intercellular communication in fibrotic liver diseases

The increasing prevalence of fibrotic liver diseases resulting from different etiologies has become a major global problem for public health. Fibrotic liver diseases represent a redundant accumulation of extracellular matrix, dysregulation of immune homeostasis and angiogenesis, which eventually contribute to the progression of cirrhosis and liver malignancies. The concerted actions among liver cells including hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, kupffer cells, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and other immune cells are essential for the outcome of liver fibrosis. Recently, a growing body of literature has highlighted that extracellular vesicles (EVs) are critical mediators of intercellular communication among different liver cells either in local or distant microenvironments, coordinating a variety of systemic pathological and physiological processes. Despite the increasing interests in this field, there are still relatively few studies to classify the contents and functions of EVs in intercellular transmission during hepatic fibrogenesis. This review aims to summarize the latest findings with regards to the cargo loading, release, and uptake of EVs in different liver cells and clarify the significant roles of EVs played in fibrotic liver diseases.

Developmental emergence of two-stage nonlinear synaptic integration in cerebellar interneurons

Synaptic transmission, connectivity, and dendritic morphology mature in parallel during brain development and are often disrupted in neurodevelopmental disorders. Yet how these changes influence the neuronal computations necessary for normal brain function are not well understood. To identify cellular mechanisms underlying the maturation of synaptic integration in interneurons, we combined patch-clamp recordings of excitatory inputs in mouse cerebellar stellate cells (SCs), three-dimensional reconstruction of SC morphology with excitatory synapse location, and biophysical modeling. We found that postnatal maturation of postsynaptic strength was homogeneously reduced along the somatodendritic axis, but dendritic integration was always sublinear. However, dendritic branching increased without changes in synapse density, leading to a substantial gain in distal inputs. Thus, changes in synapse distribution, rather than dendrite cable properties, are the dominant mechanism underlying the maturation of neuronal computation. These mechanisms favor the emergence of a spatially compartmentalized two-stage integration model promoting location-dependent integration within dendritic subunits.

A transcriptomic atlas of mouse cerebellar cortex comprehensively defines cell types

The cerebellar cortex is a well-studied brain structure with diverse roles in motor learning, coordination, cognition and autonomic regulation. However,  a complete inventory of cerebellar cell types is currently lacking. Here, using recent advances in high-throughput transcriptional profiling^1–3, we molecularly define cell types across individual lobules of the adult mouse cerebellum. Purkinje neurons showed considerable regional specialization, with the greatest diversity occurring in the posterior lobules. For several types of cerebellar interneuron, the molecular variation within each type was more continuous, rather than discrete. In particular, for the unipolar brush cells—an interneuron population previously subdivided into discrete populations—the continuous variation in gene expression was associated with a graded continuum of electrophysiological properties. Notably, we found that molecular layer interneurons were composed of two molecularly and functionally distinct types. Both types show a continuum of morphological variation through the thickness of the molecular layer, but electrophysiological recordings revealed marked differences between the two types in spontaneous firing, excitability and electrical coupling. Together, these findings provide a comprehensive cellular atlas of the cerebellar cortex, and outline a methodological and conceptual framework for the integration of molecular, morphological and physiological ontologies for defining brain cell types.

A comprehensive atlas of cell types and regional specializations in the mouse cerebellar cortex.

Small Size of Recorded Neuronal Structures Confines the Accuracy in Direct Axonal Voltage Measurements

Patch-clamp instruments including amplifier circuits and pipettes affect the recorded voltage signals. We hypothesized that realistic and complete in silico representation of recording instruments together with detailed morphology and biophysics of small recorded structures will reveal signal distortions and provide a tool that predicts native, instrument-free electrical signals from distorted voltage recordings. Therefore, we built a model that was verified by small axonal recordings. The model accurately recreated actual action potential (AP) measurements with typical recording artefacts and predicted the native electrical behavior. The simulations verified that recording instruments substantially filter voltage recordings. Moreover, we revealed that instrumentation directly interferes with local signal generation depending on the size of the recorded structures, which complicates the interpretation of recordings from smaller structures, such as axons. However, our model offers a straightforward approach that predicts the native waveforms of fast voltage signals and the underlying conductances even from the smallest neuronal structures.

Multidimensional population activity in an electrically coupled inhibitory circuit in the cerebellar cortex

Inhibitory neurons orchestrate the activity of excitatory neurons and play key roles in circuit function. Although individual interneurons have been studied extensively, little is known about their properties at the population level. Using random-access 3D two-photon microscopy, we imaged local populations of cerebellar Golgi cells (GoCs), which deliver inhibition to granule cells. We show that population activity is organized into multiple modes during spontaneous behaviors. A slow, network-wide common modulation of GoC activity correlates with the level of whisking and locomotion, while faster (<1 s) differential population activity, arising from spatially mixed heterogeneous GoC responses, encodes more precise information. A biologically detailed GoC circuit model reproduced the common population mode and the dimensionality observed experimentally, but these properties disappeared when electrical coupling was removed. Our results establish that local GoC circuits exhibit multidimensional activity patterns that could be used for inhibition-mediated adaptive gain control and spatiotemporal patterning of downstream granule cells.

Differential Contribution of Gap Junctions to the Membrane Properties of ON- and OFF-Bipolar Cells of the Rat Retina

Gap junctions are ubiquitous within the retina, but in general, it remains to be determined whether gap junction coupling between specific cell types is sufficiently strong to mediate functionally relevant coupling via electrical synapses. From ultrastructural, tracer coupling and immunolabeling studies, there is clear evidence for gap junctions between cone bipolar cells, but it is not known if these gap junctions function as electrical synapses. Here, using whole-cell voltage-clamp recording in rat (male and female) retinal slices, we investigated whether the gap junctions of bipolar cells make a measurable contribution to the membrane properties of these cells. We measured the input resistance (RN) of bipolar cells before and after applying meclofenamic acid (MFA) to block gap junctions. In the presence of MFA, RN of ON-cone bipolar cells displayed a clear increase, paralleled by block of the electrical coupling between these cells and AII amacrine cells in recordings of coupled cell pairs. For OFF-cone and rod bipolar cells, RN did not increase in the presence of MFA. The results for rod bipolar cells are consistent with the lack of gap junctions in these cells. However, for OFF-cone bipolar cells, our results suggest that the morphologically identified gap junctions between these cells do not support a junctional conductance that is sufficient to mediate effective electrical coupling. Instead, these junctions might play a role in chemical and/or metabolic coupling between subcellular compartments.

Cerebellar Golgi cell models predict dendritic processing and mechanisms of synaptic plasticity

The Golgi cells are the main inhibitory interneurons of the cerebellar granular layer. Although recent works have highlighted the complexity of their dendritic organization and synaptic inputs, the mechanisms through which these neurons integrate complex input patterns remained unknown. Here we have used 8 detailed morphological reconstructions to develop multicompartmental models of Golgi cells, in which Na, Ca, and K channels were distributed along dendrites, soma, axonal initial segment and axon. The models faithfully reproduced a rich pattern of electrophysiological and pharmacological properties and predicted the operating mechanisms of these neurons. Basal dendrites turned out to be more tightly electrically coupled to the axon initial segment than apical dendrites. During synaptic transmission, parallel fibers caused slow Ca-dependent depolarizations in apical dendrites that boosted the axon initial segment encoder and Na-spike backpropagation into basal dendrites, while inhibitory synapses effectively shunted backpropagating currents. This oriented dendritic processing set up a coincidence detector controlling voltage-dependent NMDA receptor unblock in basal dendrites, which, by regulating local calcium influx, may provide the basis for spike-timing dependent plasticity anticipated by theory.

Feed-forward recruitment of electrical synapses enhances synchronous spiking in the mouse cerebellar cortex

In the cerebellar cortex, molecular layer interneurons use chemical and electrical synapses to form subnetworks that fine-tune the spiking output of the cerebellum. Although electrical synapses can entrain activity within neuronal assemblies, their role in feed-forward circuits is less well explored. By combining whole-cell patch-clamp and 2-photon laser scanning microscopy of basket cells (BCs), we found that classical excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) are followed by GABA_A receptor-independent outward currents, reflecting the hyperpolarization component of spikelets (a synapse-evoked action potential passively propagating from electrically coupled neighbors). FF recruitment of the spikelet-mediated inhibition curtails the integration time window of concomitant excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and dampens their temporal integration. In contrast with GABAergic-mediated feed-forward inhibition, the depolarizing component of spikelets transiently increases the peak amplitude of EPSPs, and thus postsynaptic spiking probability. Therefore, spikelet transmission can propagate within the BC network to generate synchronous inhibition of Purkinje cells, which can entrain cerebellar output for driving temporally precise behaviors.

Functionally distinct Purkinje cell types show temporal precision in encoding locomotion

Purkinje cells, the principal neurons of cerebellar computations, are believed to comprise a uniform neuronal population of cells, each with similar functional properties. Here, we show an undiscovered heterogeneity of adult zebrafish Purkinje cells, revealing the existence of anatomically and functionally distinct cell types. Dual patch-clamp recordings showed that the cerebellar circuit contains all Purkinje cell types that cross-communicate extensively using chemical and electrical synapses. Further activation of spinal central pattern generators (CPGs) revealed unique phase-locked activity from each Purkinje cell type during the locomotor cycle. Thus, we show intricately organized Purkinje cell networks in the adult zebrafish cerebellum that encode the locomotion rhythm differentially, and we suggest that these organizational properties may also apply to other cerebellar functions.

Network Architecture of Gap Junctional Coupling among Parallel Processing Channels in the Mammalian Retina

Gap junctions are ubiquitous throughout the nervous system, mediating critical signal transmission and integration, as well as emergent network properties. In mammalian retina, gap junctions within the Aii amacrine cell-ON cone bipolar cell (CBC) network are essential for night vision, modulation of day vision, and contribute to visual impairment in retinal degenerations, yet neither the extended network topology nor its conservation is well established. Here, we map the network contribution of gap junctions using a high-resolution connectomics dataset of an adult female rabbit retina. Gap junctions are prominent synaptic components of ON CBC classes, constituting 5%-25% of all axonal synaptic contacts. Many of these mediate canonical transfer of rod signals from Aii cells to ON CBCs for night vision, and we find that the uneven distribution of Aii signals to ON CBCs is conserved in rabbit, including one class entirely lacking direct Aii coupling. However, the majority of gap junctions formed by ON CBCs unexpectedly occur between ON CBCs, rather than with Aii cells. Such coupling is extensive, creating an interconnected network with numerous lateral paths both within, and particularly across, these parallel processing streams. Coupling patterns are precise with ON CBCs accepting and rejecting unique combinations of partnerships according to robust rulesets. Coupling specificity extends to both size and spatial topologies, thereby rivaling the synaptic specificity of chemical synapses. These ON CBC coupling motifs dramatically extend the coupled Aii-ON CBC network, with implications for signal flow in both scotopic and photopic retinal networks during visual processing and disease.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Electrical synapses mediated by gap junctions are fundamental components of neural networks. In retina, coupling within the Aii-ON CBC network shapes visual processing in both the scotopic and photopic networks. In retinal degenerations, these same gap junctions mediate oscillatory activity that contributes to visual impairment. Here, we use high-resolution connectomics strategies to identify gap junctions and cellular partnerships. We describe novel, pervasive motifs both within and across classes of ON CBCs that dramatically extend the Aii-ON CBC network. These motifs are highly specific with implications for both signal processing within the retina and therapeutic interventions for blinding conditions. These findings highlight the underappreciated contribution of coupling motifs in retinal circuitry and the necessity of their detection in connectomics studies.

Glial Connexins and Pannexins in the Healthy and Diseased Brain

Over the past several decades a large amount of data have established that glial cells, the main cell population in the brain, dynamically interact with neurons and thus impact their activity and survival. One typical feature of glia is their marked expression of several connexins, the membrane proteins forming intercellular gap junction channels and hemichannels. Pannexins, which have a tetraspan membrane topology as connexins, are also detected in glial cells. Here, we review the evidence that connexin and pannexin channels are actively involved in dynamic and metabolic neuroglial interactions in physiological as well as in pathological situations. These features of neuroglial interactions open the way to identify novel non-neuronal aspects that allow for a better understanding of behavior and information processing performed by neurons. This will also complement the "neurocentric" view by facilitating the development of glia-targeted therapeutic strategies in brain disease.

Purinergic modulation of neuronal gap junction circuits in the CNS of the leech

Gap junctions (GJs) are widely distributed in brains across the animal kingdom. To visualize the GJ- coupled networks of two major mechanosensory neurons in the ganglia of medicinal leeches, we injected these cells with the GJ-permeable tracer Neurobiotin. When diffusion time was limited to only 30 min, tracer coupling was highly variable for both cells, suggesting a possible modulation of GJ permeability. In invertebrates the innexins (homologs of vertebrate pannexins) form the GJs. Because extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) modulates pannexin and leech innexin hemichannel permeability and is released by leech glial cells following injury, we tested the effects of bath application of ATP after the injection of Neurobiotin and observed a significant increase in the number of neurons tracer coupled to the sensory neurons. This effect required the elevation of intracellular Ca²⁺ and could be produced by bath application of caffeine. Conversely, scavenging endogenous extracellular ATP with the ATPase apyrase decreased the number of coupled cells. ATP also increased electrical conductance and tracer permeability between the bilateral Retzius neurons. This modulatory effect of ATP on GJ coupling was blocked by siRNA knockdown of a P1-like adenosine receptor. Finally, exposure of leech ganglia to extracellular ATP induced a characteristic low frequency (<0.3 Hz) rhythmic bursting activity that was roughly synchronous among multiple neurons, a behavior that was significantly attenuated by the GJ blocker octanol. These findings highlight the mediation by ATP of a robust physiological mechanism for modifying neuronal circuits by rapidly recruiting neurons into active networks and entraining synchronized bursting activity.

Diverse Neuron Properties and Complex Network Dynamics in the Cerebellar Cortical Inhibitory Circuit

Neuronal inhibition can be defined as a spatiotemporal restriction or suppression of local microcircuit activity. The importance of inhibition relies in its fundamental role in shaping signal processing in single neurons and neuronal circuits. In this context, the activity of inhibitory interneurons proved the key to endow networks with complex computational and dynamic properties. In the last 50 years, the prevailing view on the functional role of cerebellar cortical inhibitory circuits was that excitatory and inhibitory inputs sum spatially and temporally in order to determine the motor output through Purkinje cells (PCs). Consequently, cerebellar inhibition has traditionally been conceived in terms of restricting or blocking excitation. This assumption has been challenged, in particular in the cerebellar cortex where all neurons except granule cells (and unipolar brush cells in specific lobules) are inhibitory and fire spontaneously at high rates. Recently, a combination of electrophysiological recordings in vitro and in vivo, imaging, optogenetics and computational modeling, has revealed that inhibitory interneurons play a much more complex role in regulating cerebellar microcircuit functions: inhibition shapes neuronal response dynamics in the whole circuit and eventually regulate the PC output. This review elaborates current knowledge on cerebellar inhibitory interneurons [Golgi cells, Lugaro cells (LCs), basket cells (BCs) and stellate cells (SCs)], starting from their ontogenesis and moving up to their morphological, physiological and plastic properties, and integrates this knowledge with that on the more renown granule cells and PCs. We will focus on the circuit loops in which these interneurons are involved and on the way they generate feed-forward, feedback and lateral inhibition along with complex spatio-temporal response dynamics. In this perspective, inhibitory interneurons emerge as the real controllers of cerebellar functioning.

A Direct Comparison of Different Measures for the Strength of Electrical Synapses

During the last decades it became increasingly evident that electrical synapses are capable of activity-dependent plasticity. However, measuring the actual strength of electrical transmission remains difficult. Usually changes in coupling strength can only be inferred indirectly from measures such as the coupling coefficient and the coupling conductance. Because these are affected by both junctional and non-junctional conductance, plastic changes can potentially be due to both components. Furthermore, these techniques also require the blocking of chemical transmission, so that processes that involve crosstalk between chemical and electrical synapses will be suppressed. To directly examine the magnitude of errors that can occur, we use dual whole-cell current- and voltage-clamp recordings from the soma of the pair of easily accessible, electrically coupled Retzius cells in the leech to simultaneously determine coupling coefficients, coupling conductances and directly measured gap junctional currents. We present the first direct and comparative analysis of gap junction conductance using all three methods and analyze how each method would characterize the response of gap junctions to serotonin. The traditional coupling coefficients showed severe deficits in assessing the symmetry and strength of electrical synapses. These were reduced when coupling conductances were determined and were absent in the direct method. Additionally, both coupling coefficient and coupling conductance caused large and systematic errors in assessing the size and time course of the serotonin-induced changes of gap junctional currents. Most importantly, both measurements can easily be misinterpreted as implying long-term gap junctional plasticity, although the direct measurements confirm its absence. We thus show directly that coupling coefficients and coupling conductances can severely confound plastic changes in membrane and junctional conductance. Wherever possible, voltage clamp measurements should be chosen to accurately characterize the timing and strength of plasticity of electrical synapses. However, we also demonstrate that coupling coefficients can still yield a qualitatively correct picture when amended by independent measurements of the course of membrane resistance during the experiments.

Re-evaluating Circuit Mechanisms Underlying Pattern Separation

When animals interact with complex environments, their neural circuits must separate overlapping patterns of activity that represent sensory and motor information. Pattern separation is thought to be a key function of several brain regions, including the cerebellar cortex, insect mushroom body, and dentate gyrus. However, recent findings have questioned long-held ideas on how these circuits perform this fundamental computation. Here, we re-evaluate the functional and structural mechanisms underlying pattern separation. We argue that the dimensionality of the space available for population codes representing sensory and motor information provides a common framework for understanding pattern separation. We then discuss how these three circuits use different strategies to separate activity patterns and facilitate associative learning in the presence of trial-to-trial variability.

Pathway-Specific Drive of Cerebellar Golgi Cells Reveals Integrative Rules of Cortical Inhibition

Cerebellar granule cells (GrCs) constitute over half of all neurons in the vertebrate brain and are proposed to decorrelate convergent mossy fiber (MF) inputs in service of learning. Interneurons within the GrC layer, Golgi cells (GoCs), are the primary inhibitors of this vast population and therefore play a major role in influencing the computations performed within the layer. Despite this central function for GoCs, few studies have directly examined how GoCs integrate inputs from specific afferents, which vary in density to regulate GrC population activity. We used a variety of methods in mice of either sex to study feedforward inhibition recruited by identified MFs, focusing on features that would influence integration by GrCs. Comprehensive 3D reconstruction and quantification of GoC axonal boutons revealed tightly clustered boutons that focus feedforward inhibition in the neighborhood of GoC somata. Acute whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from GrCs in brain slices showed that, despite high GoC bouton density, fast phasic inhibition was very sparse relative to slow spillover mediated inhibition. Dynamic-clamp simulating inhibition combined with optogenetic MF activation at moderate rates supported a predominant role of slow spillover mediated inhibition in reducing GrC activity. Whole-cell recordings from GoCs revealed a role for the density of active MFs in preferentially driving them. Thus, our data provide empirical confirmation of predicted rules by which MFs activate GoCs to regulate GrC activity levels.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT A unifying framework in neural circuit analysis is identifying circuit motifs that subserve common computations. Wide-field inhibitory interneurons globally inhibit neighbors and have been studied extensively in the insect olfactory system and proposed to serve pattern separation functions. Cerebellar Golgi cells (GoCs), a type of mammalian wide-field inhibitory interneuron observed in the granule cell layer, are well suited to perform normalization or pattern separation functions, but the relationship between spatial characteristics of input patterns to GoC-mediated inhibition has received limited attention. This study provides unprecedented quantitative structural details of GoCs and identifies a role for population input activity levels in recruiting inhibition using in vitro electrophysiology and optogenetics.

Ephaptic Coupling Promotes Synchronous Firing of Cerebellar Purkinje Cells

Correlated neuronal activity at various timescales plays an important role in information transfer and processing. We find that in awake-behaving mice, an unexpectedly large fraction of neighboring Purkinje cells (PCs) exhibit sub-millisecond synchrony. Correlated firing usually arises from chemical or electrical synapses, but, surprisingly, neither is required to generate PC synchrony. We therefore assessed ephaptic coupling, a mechanism in which neurons communicate via extracellular electrical signals. In the neocortex, ephaptic signals from many neurons summate to entrain spiking on slow timescales, but extracellular signals from individual cells are thought to be too small to synchronize firing. Here we find that a single PC generates sufficiently large extracellular potentials to open sodium channels in nearby PC axons. Rapid synchronization is made possible because ephaptic signals generated by PCs peak during the rising phase of action potentials. These findings show that ephaptic coupling contributes to the prevalent synchronization of nearby PCs.

Electrotonic signal processing in AII amacrine cells: compartmental models and passive membrane properties for a gap junction-coupled retinal neuron

Amacrine cells are critical for processing of visual signals, but little is known about their electrotonic structure and passive membrane properties. AII amacrine cells are multifunctional interneurons in the mammalian retina and essential for both rod- and cone-mediated vision. Their dendrites are the site of both input and output chemical synapses and gap junctions that form electrically coupled networks. This electrical coupling is a challenge for developing realistic computer models of single neurons. Here, we combined multiphoton microscopy and electrophysiological recording from dye-filled AII amacrine cells in rat retinal slices to develop morphologically accurate compartmental models. Passive cable properties were estimated by directly fitting the current responses of the models evoked by voltage pulses to the physiologically recorded responses, obtained after blocking electrical coupling. The average best-fit parameters (obtained at - 60 mV and ~ 25 °C) were 0.91 µF cm^-2 for specific membrane capacitance, 198 Ω cm for cytoplasmic resistivity, and 30 kΩ cm² for specific membrane resistance. We examined the passive signal transmission between the cell body and the dendrites by the electrotonic transform and quantified the frequency-dependent voltage attenuation in response to sinusoidal current stimuli. There was significant frequency-dependent attenuation, most pronounced for signals generated at the arboreal dendrites and propagating towards the soma and lobular dendrites. In addition, we explored the consequences of the electrotonic structure for interpreting currents in somatic, whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings. The results indicate that AII amacrines cannot be characterized as electrotonically compact and suggest that their morphology and passive properties can contribute significantly to signal integration and processing.

Gap junction plasticity as a mechanism to regulate network-wide oscillations

Cortical oscillations are thought to be involved in many cognitive functions and processes. Several mechanisms have been proposed to regulate oscillations. One prominent but understudied mechanism is gap junction coupling. Gap junctions are ubiquitous in cortex between GABAergic interneurons. Moreover, recent experiments indicate their strength can be modified in an activity-dependent manner, similar to chemical synapses. We hypothesized that activity-dependent gap junction plasticity acts as a mechanism to regulate oscillations in the cortex. We developed a computational model of gap junction plasticity in a recurrent cortical network based on recent experimental findings. We showed that gap junction plasticity can serve as a homeostatic mechanism for oscillations by maintaining a tight balance between two network states: asynchronous irregular activity and synchronized oscillations. This homeostatic mechanism allows for robust communication between neuronal assemblies through two different mechanisms: transient oscillations and frequency modulation. This implies a direct functional role for gap junction plasticity in information transmission in cortex.

Gap Junction Modulation of Low-Frequency Oscillations in the Cerebellar Granule Cell Layer

Local field potential (LFP) oscillations in the granule cell layer (GCL) of the cerebellar cortex have been identified previously in the awake rat and monkey during immobility. These low-frequency oscillations are thought to be generated through local circuit interactions between Golgi cells and granule cells within the GCL. Golgi cells display rhythmic firing and pacemaking properties, and also are electrically coupled through gap junctions within the GCL. Here, we tested if gap junctions in the rat cerebellar cortex contribute to the generation of LFP oscillations in the GCL. We recorded LFP oscillations under urethane anesthesia, and examined the effects of local infusion of gap junction blockers on 5-15 Hz oscillations. Local infusion of the gap junction blockers carbenoxolone and mefloquine resulted in significant decreases in the power of oscillations over a 30-min period, but the power of oscillations was unchanged in control experiments following vehicle injections. In addition, infusion of gap junction blockers had no significant effect on multi-unit activity, suggesting that the attenuation of low-frequency oscillations was likely due to reductions in electrical coupling rather than a decreased excitability within the granule cell layer. Our results indicate that electrical coupling among the Golgi cell networks in the cerebellar cortex contributes to the local circuit mechanisms that promote the occurrence of GCL LFP slow oscillations in the anesthetized rat.

Electrical synapses in mammalian CNS: Past eras, present focus and future directions

Gap junctions provide the basis for electrical synapses between neurons. Early studies in well-defined circuits in lower vertebrates laid the foundation for understanding various properties conferred by electrical synaptic transmission. Knowledge surrounding electrical synapses in mammalian systems unfolded first with evidence indicating the presence of gap junctions between neurons in various brain regions, but with little appreciation of their functional roles. Beginning at about the turn of this century, new approaches were applied to scrutinize electrical synapses, revealing the prevalence of neuronal gap junctions, the connexin protein composition of many of those junctions, and the myriad diverse neural systems in which they occur in the mammalian CNS. Subsequent progress indicated that electrical synapses constitute key elements in synaptic circuitry, govern the collective activity of ensembles of electrically coupled neurons, and in part orchestrate the synchronized neuronal network activity and rhythmic oscillations that underlie fundamental integrative processes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Gap Junction Proteins edited by Jean Claude Herve.

The Variable Strength of Electrical Synapses

In contrast to chemical synapses, less is known regarding the determinants of the strength of electrical synapses. New evidence from Szoboszlay et al. (2016) shows that the number of gap junctions is the dominant factor underlying the strength of electrical coupling between cerebellar interneurons.

Non-synaptic signaling from cerebellar climbing fibers modulates Golgi cell activity

Golgi cells are the principal inhibitory neurons at the input stage of the cerebellum, providing feedforward and feedback inhibition through mossy fiber and parallel fiber synapses. In vivo studies have shown that Golgi cell activity is regulated by climbing fiber stimulation, yet there is little functional or anatomical evidence for synapses between climbing fibers and Golgi cells. Here, we show that glutamate released from climbing fibers activates ionotropic and metabotropic receptors on Golgi cells through spillover-mediated transmission. The interplay of excitatory and inhibitory conductances provides flexible control over Golgi cell spiking, allowing either excitation or a biphasic sequence of excitation and inhibition following single climbing fiber stimulation. Together with prior studies of spillover transmission to molecular layer interneurons, these results reveal that climbing fibers exert control over inhibition at both the input and output layers of the cerebellar cortex.

The Potential Role of Gap Junctional Plasticity in the Regulation of State

Electrical synapses are the functional correlate of gap junctions and allow transmission of small molecules and electrical current between coupled neurons. Instead of static pores, electrical synapses are actually plastic, similar to chemical synapses. In the thalamocortical system, gap junctions couple inhibitory neurons that are similar in their biochemical profile, morphology, and electrophysiological properties. We postulate that electrical synaptic plasticity among inhibitory neurons directly interacts with the switching between different firing patterns in a state-dependent and type-dependent manner. In neuronal networks, electrical synapses may function as a modifiable resonance feedback system that enables stable oscillations. Furthermore, the plasticity of electrical synapses may play an important role in regulation of state, synchrony, and rhythmogenesis in the mammalian thalamocortical system, similar to chemical synaptic plasticity. Based on their plasticity, rich diversity, and specificity, electrical synapses are thus likely to participate in the control of consciousness and attention.

Synaptic integration in cortical inhibitory neuron dendrites

Cortical inhibitory interneurons have a wide range of important functions, including balancing network excitation, enhancing spike-time precision of principal neurons, and synchronizing neural activity within and across brain regions. All these functions critically depend on the integration of synaptic inputs in their dendrites. But the sparse number of inhibitory cells, their small caliber dendrites, and the problem of cell-type identification, have prevented fast progress in analyzing their dendritic properties. Despite these challenges, recent advancements in electrophysiological, optical and molecular tools have opened the door for studying synaptic integration and dendritic computations in molecularly defined inhibitory interneurons. Accumulating evidence indicates that the biophysical properties of inhibitory neuron dendrites differ substantially from those of pyramidal neurons. In addition to the supralinear dendritic integration commonly observed in pyramidal neurons, interneuron dendrites can also integrate synaptic inputs in a linear or sublinear fashion. In this comprehensive review, we compare the dendritic biophysical properties of the three major classes of cortical inhibitory neurons and discuss how these cell type-specific properties may support their functions in the cortex.

Cx36, Cx43 and Cx45 in mouse and rat cerebellar cortex: species-specific expression, compensation in Cx36 null mice and co-localization in neurons vs. glia

Electrical synapses formed by connexin36 (Cx36)-containing gap junctions between interneurons in the cerebellar cortex have been well characterized, including those formed between basket cells and between Golgi cells, and there is gene reporter-based evidence for the expression of connexin45 (Cx45) in the cerebellar molecular layer. Here, we used immunofluorescence approaches to further investigate expression patterns of Cx36 and Cx45 in this layer and to examine localization relationships of these connexins with each other and with glial connexin43 (Cx43). In mice, strain differences were found, such that punctate labelling for Cx36 was differentially distributed in the molecular layer of C57BL/6 vs. CD1 mice. In mice with EGFP reporter representing Cx36 expression, Cx36-puncta were localized to processes of stellate cells and other cerebellar interneurons. Punctate labelling of Cx45 was faint in the molecular layer of wild-type mice and was increased in intensity in mice with Cx36 gene ablation. The vast majority of Cx36-puncta co-localized with Cx45-puncta, which in turn was associated with the scaffolding protein zonula occludens-1. In rats, Cx45-puncta were also co-localized with Cx36-puncta and additionally occurred along Bergmann glial processes adjacent to Cx43-puncta. The results indicate strain and species differences in Cx36 as well as Cx45 expression, possible compensatory processes after loss of Cx36 expression and localization of Cx45 to both neuronal and Bergmann glial gap junctions. Further, expression of both Cx43 and Cx45 in Bergmann glia of rat may contribute to the complex properties of junctional coupling between these cells and perhaps to their reported coupling with Purkinje cells.

Functional asymmetry and plasticity of electrical synapses interconnecting neurons through a 36-state model of gap junction channel gating

We combined the Hodgkin–Huxley equations and a 36-state model of gap junction channel gating to simulate electrical signal transfer through electrical synapses. Differently from most previous studies, our model can account for dynamic modulation of junctional conductance during the spread of electrical signal between coupled neurons. The model of electrical synapse is based on electrical properties of the gap junction channel encompassing two fast and two slow gates triggered by the transjunctional voltage. We quantified the influence of a difference in input resistances of electrically coupled neurons and instantaneous conductance–voltage rectification of gap junctions on an asymmetry of cell-to-cell signaling. We demonstrated that such asymmetry strongly depends on junctional conductance and can lead to the unidirectional transfer of action potentials. The simulation results also revealed that voltage spikes, which develop between neighboring cells during the spread of action potentials, can induce a rapid decay of junctional conductance, thus demonstrating spiking activity-dependent short-term plasticity of electrical synapses. This conclusion was supported by experimental data obtained in HeLa cells transfected with connexin45, which is among connexin isoforms expressed in neurons. Moreover, the model allowed us to replicate the kinetics of junctional conductance under different levels of intracellular concentration of free magnesium ([Mg²⁺]_i), which was experimentally recorded in cells expressing connexin36, a major neuronal connexin. We demonstrated that such [Mg²⁺]_i-dependent long-term plasticity of the electrical synapse can be adequately reproduced through the changes of slow gate parameters of the 36-state model. This suggests that some types of chemical modulation of gap junctions can be executed through the underlying mechanisms of voltage gating. Overall, the developed model accounts for direction-dependent asymmetry, as well as for short- and long-term plasticity of electrical synapses. Our modeling results demonstrate that such complex behavior of the electrical synapse is important in shaping the response of coupled neurons.

In most computational models of neuronal networks, it is assumed that electrical synapses have a constant and ohmic conductance. However, numerous experimental studies demonstrate that connexin-based channels expressed in neuronal gap junctions can change their conductance in response to a transjunctional voltage or various chemical reagents. In addition, electrical synapses may exhibit direction-dependent asymmetry of signal transfer. To account for all these phenomena, we combined a 36-state model of gap junction channel gating with Hodgkin–Huxley equations, which describes neuronal excitability. The combined model (HH-36SM) allowed us to evaluate the kinetics of junctional conductance during the spread of electrical signal or in response to chemical factors. Our modeling results, which were based on experimental data, demonstrated that electrical synapses exhibit a complex behavior that can strongly affect the response of coupled neurons. We suggest that the proposed modeling approach is also applicable to describe the behavior of cardiac or other excitable cell networks interconnected through gap junction channels.

The electrical synapse: Molecular complexities at the gap and beyond

Gap junctions underlie electrical synaptic transmission between neurons. Generally perceived as simple intercellular channels, "electrical synapses" have demonstrated to be more functionally sophisticated and structurally complex than initially anticipated. Electrical synapses represent an assembly of multiple molecules, consisting of channels, adhesion complexes, scaffolds, regulatory machinery, and trafficking proteins, all required for their proper function and plasticity. Additionally, while electrical synapses are often viewed as strictly symmetric structures, emerging evidence has shown that some components forming electrical synapses can be differentially distributed at each side of the junction. We propose that the molecular complexity and asymmetric distribution of proteins at the electrical synapse provides rich potential for functional diversity. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 77: 562-574, 2017.

Unique membrane properties and enhanced signal processing in human neocortical neurons

The advanced cognitive capabilities of the human brain are often attributed to our recently evolved neocortex. However, it is not known whether the basic building blocks of the human neocortex, the pyramidal neurons, possess unique biophysical properties that might impact on cortical computations. Here we show that layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons from human temporal cortex (HL2/3 PCs) have a specific membrane capacitance (C_m) of ~0.5 µF/cm², half of the commonly accepted 'universal' value (~1 µF/cm²) for biological membranes. This finding was predicted by fitting in vitro voltage transients to theoretical transients then validated by direct measurement of C_m in nucleated patch experiments. Models of 3D reconstructed HL2/3 PCs demonstrated that such low C_m value significantly enhances both synaptic charge-transfer from dendrites to soma and spike propagation along the axon. This is the first demonstration that human cortical neurons have distinctive membrane properties, suggesting important implications for signal processing in human neocortex.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.16553.001

Modeling the Cerebellar Microcircuit: New Strategies for a Long-Standing Issue

The cerebellar microcircuit has been the work bench for theoretical and computational modeling since the beginning of neuroscientific research. The regular neural architecture of the cerebellum inspired different solutions to the long-standing issue of how its circuitry could control motor learning and coordination. Originally, the cerebellar network was modeled using a statistical-topological approach that was later extended by considering the geometrical organization of local microcircuits. However, with the advancement in anatomical and physiological investigations, new discoveries have revealed an unexpected richness of connections, neuronal dynamics and plasticity, calling for a change in modeling strategies, so as to include the multitude of elementary aspects of the network into an integrated and easily updatable computational framework. Recently, biophysically accurate “realistic” models using a bottom-up strategy accounted for both detailed connectivity and neuronal non-linear membrane dynamics. In this perspective review, we will consider the state of the art and discuss how these initial efforts could be further improved. Moreover, we will consider how embodied neurorobotic models including spiking cerebellar networks could help explaining the role and interplay of distributed forms of plasticity. We envisage that realistic modeling, combined with closed-loop simulations, will help to capture the essence of cerebellar computations and could eventually be applied to neurological diseases and neurorobotic control systems.