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Wang M, Lassers SB, Vakilna YS, Mander BA, Tang WC, Brewer GJ. Spindle oscillations in communicating axons within a reconstituted hippocampal formation are strongest in CA3 without thalamus. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8384. [PMID: 38600114 PMCID: PMC11006914 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58002-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Spindle-shaped waves of oscillations emerge in EEG scalp recordings during human and rodent non-REM sleep. The association of these 10-16 Hz oscillations with events during prior wakefulness suggests a role in memory consolidation. Human and rodent depth electrodes in the brain record strong spindles throughout the cortex and hippocampus, with possible origins in the thalamus. However, the source and targets of the spindle oscillations from the hippocampus are unclear. Here, we employed an in vitro reconstruction of four subregions of the hippocampal formation with separate microfluidic tunnels for single axon communication between subregions assembled on top of a microelectrode array. We recorded spontaneous 400-1000 ms long spindle waves at 10-16 Hz in single axons passing between subregions as well as from individual neurons in those subregions. Spindles were nested within slow waves. The highest amplitudes and most frequent occurrence suggest origins in CA3 neurons that send feed-forward axons into CA1 and feedback axons into DG. Spindles had 50-70% slower conduction velocities than spikes and were not phase-locked to spikes suggesting that spindle mechanisms are independent of action potentials. Therefore, consolidation of declarative-cognitive memories in the hippocampus may be separate from the more easily accessible consolidation of memories related to thalamic motor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengke Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Samuel B Lassers
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Yash S Vakilna
- Texas Institute of Restorative Neurotechnologies (TIRN), The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Bryce A Mander
- Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory and MIND Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92868, USA
| | - William C Tang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Gregory J Brewer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory and MIND Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
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2
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Horibe K, Taga G, Fujimoto K. Geodesic theory of long association fibers arrangement in the human fetal cortex. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:9778-9786. [PMID: 37482884 PMCID: PMC10472492 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Association fibers connect different areas of the cerebral cortex over long distances and integrate information to achieve higher brain functions, particularly in humans. Prototyped association fibers are developed to the respective tangential direction throughout the cerebral hemispheres along the deepest border of the subplate during the fetal period. However, how guidance to remote areas is achieved is not known. Because the subplate is located below the cortical surface, the tangential direction of the fibers may be biased by the curved surface geometry due to Sylvian fissure and cortical poles. The fiber length can be minimized if the tracts follow the shortest paths (geodesics) of the curved surface. Here, we propose and examine a theory that geodesics guide the tangential direction of long association fibers by analyzing how geodesics are spatially distributed on the fetal human brains. We found that the geodesics were dense on the saddle-shaped surface of the perisylvian region and sparse on the dome-shaped cortical poles. The geodesics corresponded with the arrangement of five typical association fibers, supporting the theory. Thus, the geodesic theory provides directional guidance information for wiring remote areas and suggests that long association fibers emerge from minimizing their tangential length in fetal brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuya Horibe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, 560-0043 Osaka, Japan
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, 1-3 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, 560-8531 Osaka, Japan
| | - Gentaro Taga
- Department of Physical and Health Education, Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-0033 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichi Fujimoto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, 560-0043 Osaka, Japan
- Program of Mathematical and Life Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8526 Hiroshima, Japan
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3
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Cao JW, Liu LY, Yu YC. Gap junctions regulate the development of neural circuits in the neocortex. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2023; 81:102735. [PMID: 37263136 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Gap junctions between cells are ubiquitously expressed in the developing brain. They are involved in major steps of neocortical development, including neurogenesis, cell migration, synaptogenesis, and neural circuit formation, and have been implicated in cortical column formation. Dysfunctional gap junctions can contribute to or even cause a variety of brain diseases. Although the role of gap junctions in neocortical development is better known, a comprehensive understanding of their functions is far from complete. Here we explore several critical open questions surrounding gap junctions and their involvement in neural circuit development. Addressing them will greatly impact our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of neocortical structure and function as well as the etiology of brain disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Wei Cao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangnan University, Chenzhou, Hunan 423000, China
| | - Lin-Yun Liu
- Jing'an District Central Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yong-Chun Yu
- Jing'an District Central Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai 200032, China.
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4
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Mukherjee D, Kanold PO. Changing subplate circuits: Early activity dependent circuit plasticity. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 16:1067365. [PMID: 36713777 PMCID: PMC9874351 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1067365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Early neural activity in the developing sensory system comprises spontaneous bursts of patterned activity, which is fundamental for sculpting and refinement of immature cortical connections. The crude early connections that are initially refined by spontaneous activity, are further elaborated by sensory-driven activity from the periphery such that orderly and mature connections are established for the proper functioning of the cortices. Subplate neurons (SPNs) are one of the first-born mature neurons that are transiently present during early development, the period of heightened activity-dependent plasticity. SPNs are well integrated within the developing sensory cortices. Their structural and functional properties such as relative mature intrinsic membrane properties, heightened connectivity via chemical and electrical synapses, robust activation by neuromodulatory inputs-place them in an ideal position to serve as crucial elements in monitoring and regulating spontaneous endogenous network activity. Moreover, SPNs are the earliest substrates to receive early sensory-driven activity from the periphery and are involved in its modulation, amplification, and transmission before the maturation of the direct adult-like thalamocortical connectivity. Consequently, SPNs are vulnerable to sensory manipulations in the periphery. A broad range of early sensory deprivations alters SPN circuit organization and functions that might be associated with long term neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of SPN function in activity-dependent development during early life and integrate recent findings on the impact of early sensory deprivation on SPNs that could eventually lead to neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Didhiti Mukherjee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Patrick O. Kanold
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States,Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States,*Correspondence: Patrick O. Kanold ✉
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5
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Comparative microelectrode array data of the functional development of hPSC-derived and rat neuronal networks. Sci Data 2022; 9:120. [PMID: 35354837 PMCID: PMC8969177 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-022-01242-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a dataset of microelectrode array (MEA) recordings from human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived and rat embryonic cortical neurons during their in vitro maturation. The data were prepared to assess extracellularly recorded spontaneous activity and to compare the functional development of these neuronal networks. In addition to recordings of spontaneous activity, we provide pharmacological responses of hPSC-derived and rat cortical cultures at their mature stage. Together with the recorded electrode raw data, we share the analysis code to form a comprehensive dataset including spike times, spike waveforms, burst activity and network synchronization metrics calculated with two different connectivity estimators. Moreover, we provide the analysis code that produced the key scientific findings published previously with this dataset. This large dataset enables investigation of the functional aspects of maturing cortical neuronal networks and provides substantial parameters to assess the differences and similarities between hPSC-derived and rat cortical networks in vitro. This publicly available dataset will be beneficial, especially for experimental and computational neuroscientists. Measurement(s) | extracellular electrophysiological activity | Technology Type(s) | microelectrode array | Factor Type(s) | days in vitro • dosage | Sample Characteristic - Organism | hPSC-derived neuronal cultures • rat neuronal cultures | Sample Characteristic - Environment | functional development • pharmacological response |
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6
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Wallois F, Routier L, Heberlé C, Mahmoudzadeh M, Bourel-Ponchel E, Moghimi S. Back to basics: the neuronal substrates and mechanisms that underlie the electroencephalogram in premature neonates. Neurophysiol Clin 2020; 51:5-33. [PMID: 33162287 DOI: 10.1016/j.neucli.2020.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Electroencephalography is the only clinically available technique that can address the premature neonate normal and pathological functional development week after week. The changes in the electroencephalogram (EEG) result from gradual structural and functional modifications that arise during the last trimester of pregnancy. Here, we review the structural changes over time that underlie the establishment of functional immature neural networks, the impact of certain anatomical specificities (fontanelles, connectivity, etc.) on the EEG, limitations in EEG interpretation, and the utility of high-resolution EEG (HR-EEG) in premature newborns (a promising technique with a high degree of spatiotemporal resolution). In particular, we classify EEG features according to whether they are manifestations of endogenous generators (i.e. theta activities that coalesce with a slow wave or delta brushes) or come from a broader network. Furthermore, we review publications on EEG in premature animals because the data provide a better understanding of what is happening in premature newborns. We then discuss the results and limitations of functional connectivity analyses in premature newborns. Lastly, we report on the magnetoelectroencephalographic studies of brain activity in the fetus. A better understanding of complex interactions at various structural and functional levels during normal neurodevelopment (as assessed using electroencephalography as a benchmark method) might lead to better clinical care and monitoring for premature neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrice Wallois
- INSERM U1105, Research Group on Multimodal Analysis of Brain Function, Jules Verne University of Picardie, Amiens, France; Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles du Système Nerveux Pédiatrique, Amiens-Picardie Medical Center, Amiens, France.
| | - Laura Routier
- INSERM U1105, Research Group on Multimodal Analysis of Brain Function, Jules Verne University of Picardie, Amiens, France; Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles du Système Nerveux Pédiatrique, Amiens-Picardie Medical Center, Amiens, France
| | - Claire Heberlé
- INSERM U1105, Research Group on Multimodal Analysis of Brain Function, Jules Verne University of Picardie, Amiens, France; Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles du Système Nerveux Pédiatrique, Amiens-Picardie Medical Center, Amiens, France
| | - Mahdi Mahmoudzadeh
- INSERM U1105, Research Group on Multimodal Analysis of Brain Function, Jules Verne University of Picardie, Amiens, France; Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles du Système Nerveux Pédiatrique, Amiens-Picardie Medical Center, Amiens, France
| | - Emilie Bourel-Ponchel
- INSERM U1105, Research Group on Multimodal Analysis of Brain Function, Jules Verne University of Picardie, Amiens, France; Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles du Système Nerveux Pédiatrique, Amiens-Picardie Medical Center, Amiens, France
| | - Sahar Moghimi
- INSERM U1105, Research Group on Multimodal Analysis of Brain Function, Jules Verne University of Picardie, Amiens, France; Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles du Système Nerveux Pédiatrique, Amiens-Picardie Medical Center, Amiens, France
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7
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Hyvärinen T, Hyysalo A, Kapucu FE, Aarnos L, Vinogradov A, Eglen SJ, Ylä-Outinen L, Narkilahti S. Functional characterization of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical networks differentiated on laminin-521 substrate: comparison to rat cortical cultures. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17125. [PMID: 31748598 PMCID: PMC6868015 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53647-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived neurons provide exciting opportunities for in vitro modeling of neurological diseases and for advancing drug development and neurotoxicological studies. However, generating electrophysiologically mature neuronal networks from hPSCs has been challenging. Here, we report the differentiation of functionally active hPSC-derived cortical networks on defined laminin-521 substrate. We apply microelectrode array (MEA) measurements to assess network events and compare the activity development of hPSC-derived networks to that of widely used rat embryonic cortical cultures. In both of these networks, activity developed through a similar sequence of stages and time frames; however, the hPSC-derived networks showed unique patterns of bursting activity. The hPSC-derived networks developed synchronous activity, which involved glutamatergic and GABAergic inputs, recapitulating the classical cortical activity also observed in rodent counterparts. Principal component analysis (PCA) based on spike rates, network synchronization and burst features revealed the segregation of hPSC-derived and rat network recordings into different clusters, reflecting the species-specific and maturation state differences between the two networks. Overall, hPSC-derived neural cultures produced with a defined protocol generate cortical type network activity, which validates their applicability as a human-specific model for pharmacological studies and modeling network dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Hyvärinen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and BioMediTech, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Anu Hyysalo
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and BioMediTech, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Fikret Emre Kapucu
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience - DANDRITE, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Laura Aarnos
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and BioMediTech, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Andrey Vinogradov
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and BioMediTech, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Stephen J Eglen
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Ylä-Outinen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and BioMediTech, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Susanna Narkilahti
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and BioMediTech, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
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8
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Teppola H, Aćimović J, Linne ML. Unique Features of Network Bursts Emerge From the Complex Interplay of Excitatory and Inhibitory Receptors in Rat Neocortical Networks. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:377. [PMID: 31555093 PMCID: PMC6742722 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous network activity plays a fundamental role in the formation of functional networks during early development. The landmark of this activity is the recurrent emergence of intensive time-limited network bursts (NBs) rapidly spreading across the entire dissociated culture in vitro. The main excitatory mediators of NBs are glutamatergic alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs) and N-Methyl-D-aspartic-acid receptors (NMDARs) that express fast and slow ion channel kinetics, respectively. The fast inhibition of the activity is mediated through gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAARs). Although the AMPAR, NMDAR and GABAAR kinetics have been biophysically characterized in detail at the monosynaptic level in a variety of brain areas, the unique features of NBs emerging from the kinetics and the complex interplay of these receptors are not well understood. The goal of this study is to analyze the contribution of fast GABAARs on AMPAR- and NMDAR- mediated spontaneous NB activity in dissociated neonatal rat cortical cultures at 3 weeks in vitro. The networks were probed by both acute and gradual application of each excitatory receptor antagonist and combinations of acute excitatory and inhibitory receptor antagonists. At the same time, the extracellular network-wide activity was recorded with microelectrode arrays (MEAs). We analyzed the characteristic NB measures extracted from NB rate profiles and the distributions of interspike intervals, interburst intervals, and electrode recruitment time as well as the similarity of spatio-temporal patterns of network activity under different receptor antagonists. We show that NBs were rapidly initiated and recruited as well as diversely propagated by AMPARs and temporally and spatially maintained by NMDARs. GABAARs reduced the spiking frequency in AMPAR-mediated networks and dampened the termination of NBs in NMDAR-mediated networks as well as slowed down the recruitment of activity in all networks. Finally, we show characteristic super bursts composed of slow NBs with highly repetitive spatio-temporal patterns in gradually AMPAR blocked networks. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to unravel in detail how the three main mediators of synaptic transmission uniquely shape the NB characteristics, such as the initiation, maintenance, recruitment and termination of NBs in cortical cell cultures in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Teppola
- Computational Neuroscience Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Jugoslava Aćimović
- Computational Neuroscience Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Marja-Leena Linne
- Computational Neuroscience Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
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9
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Kanold PO, Deng R, Meng X. The Integrative Function of Silent Synapses on Subplate Neurons in Cortical Development and Dysfunction. Front Neuroanat 2019; 13:41. [PMID: 31040772 PMCID: PMC6476909 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2019.00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The thalamocortical circuit is of central importance in relaying information to the cortex. In development, subplate neurons (SPNs) form an integral part of the thalamocortical pathway. These early born cortical neurons are the first neurons to receive thalamic inputs and excite neurons in the cortical plate. This feed-forward circuit topology of SPNs supports the role of SPNs in shaping the formation and plasticity of thalamocortical connections. Recently it has been shown that SPNs also receive inputs from the developing cortical plate and project to the thalamus. The cortical inputs to SPNs in early ages are mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor only containing synapses while at later ages α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-receptors are present. Thus, SPNs perform a changing integrative function over development. NMDA-receptor only synapses are crucially influenced by the resting potential and thus insults to the developing brain that causes depolarizations, e.g., hypoxia, can influence the integrative function of SPNs. Since such insults in humans cause symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders, NMDA-receptor only synapses on SPNs might provide a crucial link between early injuries and later circuit dysfunction. We thus here review subplate associated circuits, their changing functions, and discuss possible roles in development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick O. Kanold
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
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10
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Desai SJ, Allman BL, Rajakumar N. Infusions of Nerve Growth Factor Into the Developing Frontal Cortex Leads to Deficits in Behavioral Flexibility and Increased Perseverance. Schizophr Bull 2018; 44:1081-1090. [PMID: 29165654 PMCID: PMC6101573 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbx159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
In the pursuit of further establishing a neurodevelopmental animal model to investigate the mechanisms underlying impaired executive function, a core and severely debilitating symptom of schizophrenia, we sought to characterize the deficits in behavioral flexibility in adult rats following neonatal infusions of nerve growth factor (NGF) into the medial part of the developing frontal cortex. Our previous studies using this neonatal frontal cortical lesion model have shown that it leads to adult-onset positive and negative symptom-like features, and several neuropathological abnormalities of schizophrenia. In the present study, we used operant conditioning-based paradigms to investigate set-shifting ability and reversal learning performance in adult rats that received infusions of NGF into the developing frontal cortex on post-natal day 1. NGF-infusion caused apoptosis of cells in the subplate layer. Adult rats that received neonatal infusions of NGF showed decreased grey matter thickness, and decreased levels of parvalbumin in prelimbic and infralimbic areas of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). NGF-treated rats had difficulty completing the set-shifting and reversal learning tasks due to increased perseverance (ie, a failure to disengage from the previously-learned strategy once the rule contingencies were changed) compared to the control group. Collectively, these results identify the crucial role of the frontal cortical subplate layer in the structural and functional development of the mPFC relevant to schizophrenia. Furthermore, the present findings substantially advance the face and construct validity of this putative preclinical model of schizophrenia based on developmental disruption of the frontal cortical subplate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagar J Desai
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Brian L Allman
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Nagalingam Rajakumar
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada,Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada,To whom correspondence should be addressed; Department of Psychiatry and Anatomy & Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; tel: (1)-519-661-2111 ext. 80521, fax: (1)-519-661-3936, e-mail:
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11
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Mäkinen MEL, Ylä-Outinen L, Narkilahti S. GABA and Gap Junctions in the Development of Synchronized Activity in Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Networks. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:56. [PMID: 29559893 PMCID: PMC5845705 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The electrical activity of the brain arises from single neurons communicating with each other. However, how single neurons interact during early development to give rise to neural network activity remains poorly understood. We studied the emergence of synchronous neural activity in human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived neural networks simultaneously on a single-neuron level and network level. The contribution of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and gap junctions to the development of synchronous activity in hPSC-derived neural networks was studied with GABA agonist and antagonist and by blocking gap junctional communication, respectively. We characterized the dynamics of the network-wide synchrony in hPSC-derived neural networks with high spatial resolution (calcium imaging) and temporal resolution microelectrode array (MEA). We found that the emergence of synchrony correlates with a decrease in very strong GABA excitation. However, the synchronous network was found to consist of a heterogeneous mixture of synchronously active cells with variable responses to GABA, GABA agonists and gap junction blockers. Furthermore, we show how single-cell distributions give rise to the network effect of GABA, GABA agonists and gap junction blockers. Finally, based on our observations, we suggest that the earliest form of synchronous neuronal activity depends on gap junctions and a decrease in GABA induced depolarization but not on GABAA mediated signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meeri Eeva-Liisa Mäkinen
- NeuroGroup Laboratory, BioMediTech Institute and Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
| | - Laura Ylä-Outinen
- NeuroGroup Laboratory, BioMediTech Institute and Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
| | - Susanna Narkilahti
- NeuroGroup Laboratory, BioMediTech Institute and Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
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12
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Babij R, De Marco Garcia N. Neuronal activity controls the development of interneurons in the somatosensory cortex. FRONTIERS IN BIOLOGY 2016; 11:459-470. [PMID: 28133476 PMCID: PMC5267357 DOI: 10.1007/s11515-016-1427-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuronal activity in cortical areas regulates neurodevelopment by interacting with defined genetic programs to shape the mature central nervous system. Electrical activity is conveyed to sensory cortical areas via intracortical and thalamocortical neurons, and includes oscillatory patterns that have been measured across cortical regions. OBJECTIVE In this work, we review the most recent findings about how electrical activity shapes the developmental assembly of functional circuitry in the somatosensory cortex, with an emphasis on interneuron maturation and integration. We include studies on the effect of various neurotransmitters and on the influence of thalamocortical afferent activity on circuit development. We additionally reviewed studies describing network activity patterns. METHODS We conducted an extensive literature search using both the PubMed and Google Scholar search engines. The following keywords were used in various iterations: "interneuron", "somatosensory", "development", "activity", "network patterns", "thalamocortical", "NMDA receptor", "plasticity". We additionally selected papers known to us from past reading, and those recommended to us by reviewers and members of our lab. RESULTS We reviewed a total of 132 articles that focused on the role of activity in interneuronal migration, maturation, and circuit development, as well as the source of electrical inputs and patterns of cortical activity in the somatosensory cortex. 79 of these papers included in this timely review were written between 2007 and 2016. CONCLUSIONS Neuronal activity shapes the developmental assembly of functional circuitry in the somatosensory cortical interneurons. This activity impacts nearly every aspect of development and acquisition of mature neuronal characteristics, and may contribute to changing phenotypes, altered transmitter expression, and plasticity in the adult. Progressively changing oscillatory network patterns contribute to this activity in the early postnatal period, although a direct requirement for specific patterns and origins of activity remains to be demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Babij
- Center for Neurogenetics, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA; Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, New York, USA
| | - Natalia De Marco Garcia
- Center for Neurogenetics, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Luhmann HJ, Sinning A, Yang JW, Reyes-Puerta V, Stüttgen MC, Kirischuk S, Kilb W. Spontaneous Neuronal Activity in Developing Neocortical Networks: From Single Cells to Large-Scale Interactions. Front Neural Circuits 2016; 10:40. [PMID: 27252626 PMCID: PMC4877528 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2016.00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal activity has been shown to be essential for the proper formation of neuronal circuits, affecting developmental processes like neurogenesis, migration, programmed cell death, cellular differentiation, formation of local and long-range axonal connections, synaptic plasticity or myelination. Accordingly, neocortical areas reveal distinct spontaneous and sensory-driven neuronal activity patterns already at early phases of development. At embryonic stages, when immature neurons start to develop voltage-dependent channels, spontaneous activity is highly synchronized within small neuronal networks and governed by electrical synaptic transmission. Subsequently, spontaneous activity patterns become more complex, involve larger networks and propagate over several neocortical areas. The developmental shift from local to large-scale network activity is accompanied by a gradual shift from electrical to chemical synaptic transmission with an initial excitatory action of chloride-gated channels activated by GABA, glycine and taurine. Transient neuronal populations in the subplate (SP) support temporary circuits that play an important role in tuning early neocortical activity and the formation of mature neuronal networks. Thus, early spontaneous activity patterns control the formation of developing networks in sensory cortices, and disturbances of these activity patterns may lead to long-lasting neuronal deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko J Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Mainz, Germany
| | - Anne Sinning
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Mainz, Germany
| | - Jenq-Wei Yang
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Mainz, Germany
| | - Vicente Reyes-Puerta
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Mainz, Germany
| | - Maik C Stüttgen
- Institute of Pathophysiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Mainz, Germany
| | - Sergei Kirischuk
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Mainz, Germany
| | - Werner Kilb
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Mainz, Germany
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Dong J, Gao L, Han J, Zhang J, Zheng J. Dopamine Attenuates Ketamine-Induced Neuronal Apoptosis in the Developing Rat Retina Independent of Early Synchronized Spontaneous Network Activity. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:3407-3417. [PMID: 27177547 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-9914-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Deprivation of spontaneous rhythmic electrical activity in early development by anesthesia administration, among other interventions, induces neuronal apoptosis. However, it is unclear whether enhancement of neuronal electrical activity attenuates neuronal apoptosis in either normal development or after anesthesia exposure. The present study investigated the effects of dopamine, an enhancer of spontaneous rhythmic electrical activity, on ketamine-induced neuronal apoptosis in the developing rat retina. TUNEL and immunohistochemical assays indicated that ketamine time- and dose-dependently aggravated physiological and ketamine-induced apoptosis and inhibited early-synchronized spontaneous network activity. Dopamine administration reversed ketamine-induced neuronal apoptosis, but did not reverse the inhibitory effects of ketamine on early synchronized spontaneous network activity despite enhancing it in controls. Blockade of D1, D2, and A2A receptors and inhibition of cAMP/PKA signaling partially antagonized the protective effect of dopamine against ketamine-induced apoptosis. Together, these data indicate that dopamine attenuates ketamine-induced neuronal apoptosis in the developing rat retina by activating the D1, D2, and A2A receptors, and upregulating cAMP/PKA signaling, rather than through modulation of early synchronized spontaneous network activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Dong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingqi Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Junde Han
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Junjie Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1111 Xianxia Road, Shanghai, 200050, China.
| | - Jijian Zheng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai, 200127, China.
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15
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Mordel J, Sheikh A, Tsohataridis S, Kanold PO, Zehendner CM, Luhmann HJ. Mild systemic inflammation and moderate hypoxia transiently alter neuronal excitability in mouse somatosensory cortex. Neurobiol Dis 2016; 88:29-43. [PMID: 26763603 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Revised: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
During the perinatal period, the brain is highly vulnerable to hypoxia and inflammation, which often cause white matter injury and long-term neuronal dysfunction such as motor and cognitive deficits or epileptic seizures. We studied the effects of moderate hypoxia (HYPO), mild systemic inflammation (INFL), or the combination of both (HYPO+INFL) in mouse somatosensory cortex induced during the first postnatal week on network activity and compared it to activity in SHAM control animals. By performing in vitro electrophysiological recordings with multi-electrode arrays from slices prepared directly after injury (P8-10), one week after injury (P13-16), or in young adults (P28-30), we investigated how the neocortical network developed following these insults. No significant difference was observed between the four groups in an extracellular solution close to physiological conditions. In extracellular 8mM potassium solution, slices from the HYPO, INFL, and HYPO+INFL group were more excitable than SHAM at P8-10 and P13-16. In these two age groups, the number and frequency of spontaneous epileptiform events were significantly increased compared to SHAM. The frequency of epileptiform events was significantly reduced by the NMDA antagonist D-APV in HYPO, INFL, and HYPO+INFL, but not in SHAM, indicating a contribution of NMDA receptors to this pathophysiological activity. In addition, the AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist CNQX suppressed the remaining epileptiform activity. Electrical stimulation evoked prominent epileptiform activity in slices from HYPO, INFL and HYPO+INFL animals. Stimulation threshold to elicit epileptiform events was lower in these groups than in SHAM. Evoked events spread over larger areas and lasted longer in treated animals than in SHAM. In addition, the evoked epileptiform activity was reduced in the older (P28-30) group indicating that cortical dysfunction induced by hypoxia and inflammation was transient and compensated during early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Mordel
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Aminah Sheikh
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Simeon Tsohataridis
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Patrick O Kanold
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Christoph M Zehendner
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128 Mainz, Germany; ZIM III, Department of Cardiology, Institute for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Heiko J Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
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16
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Rigas P, Adamos DA, Sigalas C, Tsakanikas P, Laskaris NA, Skaliora I. Spontaneous Up states in vitro: a single-metric index of the functional maturation and regional differentiation of the cerebral cortex. Front Neural Circuits 2015; 9:59. [PMID: 26528142 PMCID: PMC4603250 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2015.00059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the development and differentiation of the neocortex remains a central focus of neuroscience. While previous studies have examined isolated aspects of cellular and synaptic organization, an integrated functional index of the cortical microcircuit is still lacking. Here we aimed to provide such an index, in the form of spontaneously recurring periods of persistent network activity -or Up states- recorded in mouse cortical slices. These coordinated network dynamics emerge through the orchestrated regulation of multiple cellular and synaptic elements and represent the default activity of the cortical microcircuit. To explore whether spontaneous Up states can capture developmental changes in intracortical networks we obtained local field potential recordings throughout the mouse lifespan. Two independent and complementary methodologies revealed that Up state activity is systematically modified by age, with the largest changes occurring during early development and adolescence. To explore possible regional heterogeneities we also compared the development of Up states in two distinct cortical areas and show that primary somatosensory cortex develops at a faster pace than primary motor cortex. Our findings suggest that in vitro Up states can serve as a functional index of cortical development and differentiation and can provide a baseline for comparing experimental and/or genetic mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlos Rigas
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of AthensAthens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios A. Adamos
- Neuroinformatics Group, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki, Greece
- School of Music Studies, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki, Greece
| | - Charalambos Sigalas
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of AthensAthens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Tsakanikas
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of AthensAthens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos A. Laskaris
- Neuroinformatics Group, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki, Greece
- AIIA Lab, Department of Informatics, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki, Greece
| | - Irini Skaliora
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of AthensAthens, Greece
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Dossi E, Blauwblomme T, Nabbout R, Huberfeld G, Rouach N. Multi-electrode array recordings of human epileptic postoperative cortical tissue. J Vis Exp 2014:e51870. [PMID: 25407747 PMCID: PMC4353385 DOI: 10.3791/51870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy, affecting about 1% of the population, comprises a group of neurological disorders characterized by the periodic occurrence of seizures, which disrupt normal brain function. Despite treatment with currently available antiepileptic drugs targeting neuronal functions, one third of patients with epilepsy are pharmacoresistant. In this condition, surgical resection of the brain area generating seizures remains the only alternative treatment. Studying human epileptic tissues has contributed to understand new epileptogenic mechanisms during the last 10 years. Indeed, these tissues generate spontaneous interictal epileptic discharges as well as pharmacologically-induced ictal events which can be recorded with classical electrophysiology techniques. Remarkably, multi-electrode arrays (MEAs), which are microfabricated devices embedding an array of spatially arranged microelectrodes, provide the unique opportunity to simultaneously stimulate and record field potentials, as well as action potentials of multiple neurons from different areas of the tissue. Thus MEAs recordings offer an excellent approach to study the spatio-temporal patterns of spontaneous interictal and evoked seizure-like events and the mechanisms underlying seizure onset and propagation. Here we describe how to prepare human cortical slices from surgically resected tissue and to record with MEAs interictal and ictal-like events ex vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Dossi
- Neuroglial Interactions in Cerebral Physiopathology, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, Collège de France
| | - Thomas Blauwblomme
- Infantile Epilepsies & Brain Plasticity, INSERM U1129, PRES, Paris Descartes University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, CEA; Neurosurgery Department, Necker Hospital, AP-HP, Paris Descartes University
| | - Rima Nabbout
- Infantile Epilepsies & Brain Plasticity, INSERM U1129, PRES, Paris Descartes University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, CEA; Rare Epilepsies Reference Center, Necker Hospital, AP-HP, Paris Descartes University
| | - Gilles Huberfeld
- Infantile Epilepsies & Brain Plasticity, INSERM U1129, PRES, Paris Descartes University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, CEA; Neurophysiology Department, La Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP, Sorbonne and Pierre and Marie Curie University
| | - Nathalie Rouach
- Neuroglial Interactions in Cerebral Physiopathology, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, Collège de France;
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Connexin hemichannels contribute to spontaneous electrical activity in the human fetal cortex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:E3919-28. [PMID: 25197082 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1405253111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Before the human cortex is able to process sensory information, young postmitotic neurons must maintain occasional bursts of action-potential firing to attract and keep synaptic contacts, to drive gene expression, and to transition to mature membrane properties. Before birth, human subplate (SP) neurons are spontaneously active, displaying bursts of electrical activity (plateau depolarizations with action potentials). Using whole-cell recordings in acute cortical slices, we investigated the source of this early activity. The spontaneous depolarizations in human SP neurons at midgestation (17-23 gestational weeks) were not completely eliminated by tetrodotoxin--a drug that blocks action potential firing and network activity--or by antagonists of glutamatergic, GABAergic, or glycinergic synaptic transmission. We then turned our focus away from standard chemical synapses to connexin-based gap junctions and hemichannels. PCR and immunohistochemical analysis identified the presence of connexins (Cx26/Cx32/Cx36) in the human fetal cortex. However, the connexin-positive cells were not found in clusters but, rather, were dispersed in the SP zone. Also, gap junction-permeable dyes did not diffuse to neighboring cells, suggesting that SP neurons were not strongly coupled to other cells at this age. Application of the gap junction and hemichannel inhibitors octanol, flufenamic acid, and carbenoxolone significantly blocked spontaneous activity. The putative hemichannel antagonist lanthanum alone was a potent inhibitor of the spontaneous activity. Together, these data suggest that connexin hemichannels contribute to spontaneous depolarizations in the human fetal cortex during the second trimester of gestation.
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19
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Apuschkin M, Ougaard M, Rekling JC. Spontaneous calcium waves in granule cells in cerebellar slice cultures. Neurosci Lett 2013; 553:78-83. [PMID: 23973304 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2013.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2013] [Revised: 08/07/2013] [Accepted: 08/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Multiple regions in the CNS display propagating correlated activity during embryonic and postnatal development. This activity can be recorded as waves of increased calcium concentrations in spiking neurons or glia cells, and have been suggested to be involved in patterning, axonal guidance and establishment of synaptic transmission. Here, we used calcium imaging in slice cultures of the postnatal cerebellum, and observe spontaneous propagating calcium waves in NeuN-positive granule-like cells. Wave formation was blocked by TTX and the AMPA antagonist NBQX, but persisted after NMDA receptor blockade with MK-801. Whole-cell recordings during wave formation showed cyclic EPSP barrages with an amplitude of 10-20 mV concurrent with wave activity. Local non-propagating putative transglial waves were also present in the cultures, and could be reproduced by pressure application of ATP. We hypothesize, that the propagating wave activity is carried through the tissue by axonal collaterals formed by neighboring granule cells, and further suggest that the correlated activity may be related to processes that ensure correct postnatal wiring of the cerebellar circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia Apuschkin
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Copenhagen University, Panum Institute, 12.3, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.
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20
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Chang WP, Wu JJS, Shyu BC. Thalamic modulation of cingulate seizure activity via the regulation of gap junctions in mice thalamocingulate slice. PLoS One 2013; 8:e62952. [PMID: 23690968 PMCID: PMC3653920 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2013] [Accepted: 03/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The thalamus is an important target for deep brain stimulation in the treatment of seizures. However, whether the modulatory effect of thalamic inputs on cortical seizures occurs through the modulation of gap junctions has not been previously studied. Therefore, we tested the effects of different gap junction blockers and couplers in a drug-resistant seizure model and studied the role of gap junctions in the thalamic modulation on cortical seizures. Multielectrode array and calcium imaging were used to record the cortical seizures induced by 4-aminopyridine (250 µM) and bicuculline (5-50 µM) in a novel thalamocingulate slice preparation. Seizure-like activity was significantly attenuated by the pan-gap junction blockers carbenoxolone and octanol and specific neuronal gap junction blocker mefloquine. The gap junction coupler trimethylamine significantly enhanced seizure-like activity. Gap junction blockers did not influence the initial phase of seizure-like activity, but they significantly decreased the amplitude and duration of the maintenance phase. The development of seizures is regulated by extracellular potassium concentration. Carbenoxolone partially restored the amplitude and duration after removing the thalamic inputs. A two-dimensional current source density analysis showed that the sink and source signals shifted to deeper layers after removing the thalamic inputs during the clonic phase. These results indicate that the regulatory mechanism of deep brain stimulation in the thalamus occurs partially though gap junctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Pang Chang
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - José Jiun-Shian Wu
- Institute of Zoology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Bai-Chuang Shyu
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Institute of Biomedical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
- * E-mail:
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21
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Feldmeyer D, Brecht M, Helmchen F, Petersen CC, Poulet JF, Staiger JF, Luhmann HJ, Schwarz C. Barrel cortex function. Prog Neurobiol 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2012.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 257] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Namiki S, Norimoto H, Kobayashi C, Nakatani K, Matsuki N, Ikegaya Y. Layer III neurons control synchronized waves in the immature cerebral cortex. J Neurosci 2013; 33:987-1001. [PMID: 23325237 PMCID: PMC6704853 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2522-12.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2012] [Revised: 09/10/2012] [Accepted: 10/24/2012] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Correlated spiking activity prevails in immature cortical networks and is believed to contribute to neuronal circuit maturation; however, its spatiotemporal organization is not fully understood. Using wide-field calcium imaging from acute whole-brain slices of rat pups on postnatal days 1-6, we found that correlated spikes were initiated in the anterior part of the lateral entorhinal cortex and propagated anteriorly to the frontal cortex and posteriorly to the medial entorhinal cortex, forming traveling waves that engaged almost the entire cortex. The waves were blocked by ionotropic glutamatergic receptor antagonists but not by GABAergic receptor antagonists. During wave events, glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic inputs were balanced and induced UP state-like depolarization. Magnified monitoring with cellular resolution revealed that the layer III neurons were first activated when the waves were initiated. Consistent with this finding, layer III contained a larger number of neurons that were autonomously active, even under a blockade of synaptic transmission. During wave propagation, the layer III neurons constituted a leading front of the wave. The waves did not enter the parasubiculum; however, in some cases, they were reflected at the parasubicular border and propagated back in the opposite direction. During this reflection process, the layer III neurons in the medial entorhinal cortex maintained persistent activity. Thus, our data emphasize the role of layer III in early network behaviors and provide insight into the circuit mechanisms through which cerebral cortical networks maturate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigehiro Namiki
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan, and
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Norimoto
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan, and
| | - Chiaki Kobayashi
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan, and
| | - Kei Nakatani
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
| | - Norio Matsuki
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan, and
| | - Yuji Ikegaya
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan, and
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Voltage-sensitive dye imaging reveals dynamic spatiotemporal properties of cortical activity after spontaneous muscle twitches in the newborn rat. J Neurosci 2012; 32:10982-94. [PMID: 22875932 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1322-12.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous activity in the developing brain contributes to its maturation, but how this activity is coordinated between distinct cortical regions and whether it might reflect developing sensory circuits is not well understood. Here, we address this question by imaging the spread and synchronization of cortical activity using voltage-sensitive dyes (VSDs) in the developing rat in vivo. In postnatal day 4-6 rats (n = 10), we collected spontaneous changes in VSD signal that reflect underlying membrane potential changes over a large craniotomy (50 mm2) that encompassed both the sensory and motor cortices of both hemispheres. Bursts of depolarization that occurred approximately once every 12 s were preceded by spontaneous twitches of the hindlimbs and/or tail. The close association with peripheral movements suggests that these bursts may represent a slow component of spindle bursts, a prominent form of activity in the developing somatosensory cortex. Twitch-associated cortical activity was synchronized between subregions of somatosensory cortex, which reflected the synchronized twitching of the limbs and tail. This activity also spread asymmetrically, toward the midline of the brain. We found that the spatial and temporal structure of such spontaneous cortical bursts closely matched that of sensory-evoked activity elicited via direct stimulation of the periphery. These data suggest that spontaneous cortical activity provides a recurring template of functional cortical circuits within the developing cortex and could contribute to the maturation of integrative connections between sensory and motor cortices.
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Egorov AV, Draguhn A. Development of coherent neuronal activity patterns in mammalian cortical networks: common principles and local hetereogeneity. Mech Dev 2012; 130:412-23. [PMID: 23032193 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2012.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2012] [Revised: 09/18/2012] [Accepted: 09/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Many mammals are born in a very immature state and develop their rich repertoire of behavioral and cognitive functions postnatally. This development goes in parallel with changes in the anatomical and functional organization of cortical structures which are involved in most complex activities. The emerging spatiotemporal activity patterns in multi-neuronal cortical networks may indeed form a direct neuronal correlate of systemic functions like perception, sensorimotor integration, decision making or memory formation. During recent years, several studies--mostly in rodents--have shed light on the ontogenesis of such highly organized patterns of network activity. While each local network has its own peculiar properties, some general rules can be derived. We therefore review and compare data from the developing hippocampus, neocortex and--as an intermediate region--entorhinal cortex. All cortices seem to follow a characteristic sequence starting with uncorrelated activity in uncoupled single neurons where transient activity seems to have mostly trophic effects. In rodents, before and shortly after birth, cortical networks develop weakly coordinated multineuronal discharges which have been termed synchronous plateau assemblies (SPAs). While these patterns rely mostly on electrical coupling by gap junctions, the subsequent increase in number and maturation of chemical synapses leads to the generation of large-scale coherent discharges. These patterns have been termed giant depolarizing potentials (GDPs) for predominantly GABA-induced events or early network oscillations (ENOs) for mostly glutamatergic bursts, respectively. During the third to fourth postnatal week, cortical areas reach their final activity patterns with distinct network oscillations and highly specific neuronal discharge sequences which support adult behavior. While some of the mechanisms underlying maturation of network activity have been elucidated much work remains to be done in order to fully understand the rules governing transition from immature to mature patterns of network activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexei V Egorov
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Heidelberg and Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience-BCCN Heidelberg/Mannheim, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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25
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Kotak VC, Péndola LM, Rodríguez-Contreras A. Spontaneous activity in the developing gerbil auditory cortex in vivo involves GABAergic transmission. Neuroscience 2012; 226:130-44. [PMID: 22986170 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2011] [Revised: 09/04/2012] [Accepted: 09/04/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
A salient feature of the developing brain is that spontaneous oscillations (SOs) and waves may influence the emergence of synaptic connections. While GABA produces depolarization and may support SOs in the neurons of developing rodents, it elicits hyperpolarization and diminishes SOs in developing gerbil auditory cortex (ACx). Therefore, we asked whether SOs exist in developing gerbil ACx in vivo and if GABAergic involvement can be manipulated. In vivo extracellular recordings in P3-5 ACx revealed SOs with longer burst durations and shorter inter-event intervals compared to ACx SOs in slices. ACx was then validated by gross anatomical features and lesions created at the in vivo recording site that corresponded with the electrophysiological coordinates of thalamorecipient ACx in slices. Further, NeuroVue Red, a lipophilic dye loaded at the in vivo recording sites, stained anatomically identifiable fiber tracks between the ACx and the auditory thalamus, medial geniculate body (MG). Separately, to chronically perturb GABAergic role in SOs, P2-5 pups were administered daily with GABA(A) receptor blocker, bicuculline (BIC). We then recorded from P14-17 ACx neurons in slices generated after hearing onset. ACx neurons from BIC-administered pups exhibited spontaneous action potentials in contrast to subthreshold synaptic potentials in neurons from sham-injected animals. Finally, to elucidate whether the gap junction blocker mefloquine (MFQ) previously shown to dampen ACx SOs in slices affected GABAergic transmission, MFQ was acutely applied in P3-5 slices while spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) were recorded. Whereas MFQ increased the amplitude and frequency of sIPSCs in ACx neurons, the broad-spectrum gap junction blocker carbenoxolone decreased sIPSC amplitudes only. Together, we show that P2-5 gerbil ACx can endogenously generate SOs in vivo. Persistence of activity in ACx in P14-17 slices from pups administered with BIC at P2-5 implies that inhibitory GABAergic activity linked with gap-junction participates in the maturation of ACx.
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Affiliation(s)
- V C Kotak
- Center for Neural Science, 4 Washington Place, New York, NY 10003, USA.
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Nimmervoll B, White R, Yang JW, An S, Henn C, Sun JJ, Luhmann HJ. LPS-induced microglial secretion of TNFα increases activity-dependent neuronal apoptosis in the neonatal cerebral cortex. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 23:1742-55. [PMID: 22700645 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhs156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
During the pre- and neonatal period, the cerebral cortex reveals distinct patterns of spontaneous synchronized activity, which is critically involved in the formation of early networks and in the regulation of neuronal survival and programmed cell death (apoptosis). During this period, the cortex is also highly vulnerable to inflammation and in humans prenatal infection may have a profound impact on neurodevelopment causing long-term neurological deficits. Using in vitro and in vivo multi-electrode array recordings and quantification of caspase-3 (casp-3)-dependent apoptosis, we demonstrate that lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation causes rapid alterations in the pattern of spontaneous burst activities, which subsequently leads to an increase in apoptosis. We show that these inflammatory effects are specifically initiated by the microglia-derived pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor α and the chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein 2. Our data demonstrate that inflammation-induced modifications in spontaneous network activities influence casp-3-dependent cell death in the developing cerebral cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Nimmervoll
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz D-55128, Germany
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Yang JW, An S, Sun JJ, Reyes-Puerta V, Kindler J, Berger T, Kilb W, Luhmann HJ. Thalamic network oscillations synchronize ontogenetic columns in the newborn rat barrel cortex. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 23:1299-316. [PMID: 22593243 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhs103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Neocortical areas are organized in columns, which form the basic structural and functional modules of intracortical information processing. Using voltage-sensitive dye imaging and simultaneous multi-channel extracellular recordings in the barrel cortex of newborn rats in vivo, we found that spontaneously occurring and whisker stimulation-induced gamma bursts followed by longer lasting spindle bursts were topographically organized in functional cortical columns already at the day of birth. Gamma bursts synchronized a cortical network of 300-400 µm in diameter and were coherent with gamma activity recorded simultaneously in the thalamic ventral posterior medial (VPM) nucleus. Cortical gamma bursts could be elicited by focal electrical stimulation of the VPM. Whisker stimulation-induced spindle and gamma bursts and the majority of spontaneously occurring events were profoundly reduced by the local inactivation of the VPM, indicating that the thalamus is important to generate these activity patterns. Furthermore, inactivation of the barrel cortex with lidocaine reduced the gamma activity in the thalamus, suggesting that a cortico-thalamic feedback loop modulates this early thalamic network activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenq-Wei Yang
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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Subplate neurons promote spindle bursts and thalamocortical patterning in the neonatal rat somatosensory cortex. J Neurosci 2012; 32:692-702. [PMID: 22238105 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1538-11.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Patterned neuronal activity such as spindle bursts in the neonatal cortex is likely to promote the maturation of cortical synapses and neuronal circuits. Previous work on cats has shown that removal of subplate neurons, a transient neuronal population in the immature cortex, prevents the functional maturation of thalamocortical and intracortical connectivity. Here we studied the effect of subplate removal in the neonatal rat primary somatosensory cortex (S1). Using intracortical EEG we show that after selective removal of subplate neurons in the limb region of S1, endogenous and sensory evoked spindle burst activity is largely abolished. Consistent with the reduced in vivo activity in the S1 limb region, we find by in vitro recordings that thalamocortical inputs to layer 4 neurons are weak. In addition, we find that removal of subplate neurons in the S1 barrel region prevents the development of the characteristic histological barrel-like appearance. Thus, subplate neurons are crucially involved in the generation of particular types of early network activity in the neonatal cortex, which are an important feature of cortical development. The altered EEG pattern following subplate damage could be applicable in the neurological assessment of human neonates.
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Myers MM, Grieve PG, Izraelit A, Fifer WP, Isler JR, Darnall RA, Stark RI. Developmental profiles of infant EEG: overlap with transient cortical circuits. Clin Neurophysiol 2012; 123:1502-11. [PMID: 22341979 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2011.11.264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2011] [Revised: 10/31/2011] [Accepted: 11/03/2011] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To quantify spectral power in frequency specific bands and commonly observed types of bursting activities in the EEG during early human development. METHODS An extensive archive of EEG data from human infants from 35 to 52 weeks postmenstrual age obtained in a prior multi-center study was analyzed using power spectrum analyses and a high frequency burst detection algorithm. RESULTS Low frequency power increased with age; however, high frequency power decreased from 35 to 45 weeks. This unexpected decrease was largely attributable to a rapid decline in the number of high frequency bursts. CONCLUSIONS The decline in high frequency bursting activity overlaps with a developmental shift in GABA's actions on neurons from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing and the dissolution of the gap junction circuitry of the cortical subplate. SIGNIFICANCE We postulate that quantitative characterization of features of the EEG unique to early development provide indices for tracking changes in specific neurophysiologic mechanisms that are critical for normal development of brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Myers
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 United States.
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30
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Kilb W, Kirischuk S, Luhmann HJ. Electrical activity patterns and the functional maturation of the neocortex. Eur J Neurosci 2011; 34:1677-86. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2011.07878.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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31
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Conhaim J, Cedarbaum ER, Barahimi M, Moore JG, Becker MI, Gleiss H, Kohl C, Moody WJ. Bimodal septal and cortical triggering and complex propagation patterns of spontaneous waves of activity in the developing mouse cerebral cortex. Dev Neurobiol 2011; 70:679-92. [PMID: 20506182 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.20797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Spontaneous waves of activity that propagate across large structures during specific developmental stages play central roles in CNS development. To understand the genesis and functions of these waves, it is critical to understand the spatial and temporal patterns of their propagation. We recently reported that spontaneous waves in the neonatal cerebral cortex originate from a ventrolateral pacemaker region. We have now analyzed a large number of spontaneous waves using calcium imaging over the entire area of coronal slices from E18-P1 mouse brains. In all waves, the first cortical region active is this ventrolateral pacemaker. In half of the waves, however, the cortical pacemaker activity is itself triggered by preceding activity in the septal nuclei. Most waves are restricted to the septum and/or ventral cortex, with only some invading the dorsal cortex or the contralateral hemisphere. Waves fail to propagate at very stereotyped locations at the boundary between ventral and dorsal cortex and at the dorsal midline. Waves that cross these boundaries pause at these same locations. Waves at these stages are blocked by both picrotoxin and CNQX, indicating that both GABA(A) and AMPA receptors are involved in spontaneous activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay Conhaim
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
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32
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Abstract
The developing mammalian cerebral cortex contains a distinct class of cells, subplate neurons (SPns), that play an important role during early development. SPns are the first neurons to be generated in the cerebral cortex, they reside in the cortical white matter, and they are the first to mature physiologically. SPns receive thalamic and neuromodulatory inputs and project into the developing cortical plate, mostly to layer 4. Thus SPns form one of the first functional cortical circuits and are required to relay early oscillatory activity into the developing cortical plate. Pathophysiological impairment or removal of SPns profoundly affects functional cortical development. SPn removal in visual cortex prevents the maturation of thalamocortical synapses, the maturation of inhibition in layer 4, the development of orientation selective responses and the formation of ocular dominance columns. SPn removal also alters ocular dominance plasticity during the critical period. Therefore, SPns are a key regulator of cortical development and plasticity. SPns are vulnerable to injury during prenatal stages and might provide a crucial link between brain injury in development and later cognitive malfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick O Kanold
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.
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33
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Golbs A, Nimmervoll B, Sun JJ, Sava IE, Luhmann HJ. Control of programmed cell death by distinct electrical activity patterns. Cereb Cortex 2010; 21:1192-202. [PMID: 20966045 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhq200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrical activity and sufficient supply with survival factors play a major role in the control of apoptosis in the developing cortex. Coherent high-frequency neuronal activity, which efficiently releases neurotrophins, is essential for the survival of immature neurons. We studied the influence of neuronal activity on apoptosis in the developing cortex. Dissociated cultures of the newborn mouse cerebral cortex were grown on multielectrode arrays to determine the activity patterns that promote neuronal survival. Cultures were transfected with a plasmid coding for a caspase-3-sensitive fluorescent protein allowing real-time analysis of caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in individual neurons. Elevated extracellular potassium concentrations (5 and 8 mM), application of 4-aminopyridine or the γ-aminobutyric acid-A receptor antagonist Gabazine induced a shift in the frequency distribution of activity toward high-frequency bursts. Under these conditions, a reduction or delay in caspase-3 activation and an overall increase in neuronal survival could be observed. This effect was dependent on the activity of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, as blockade of this enzyme abolished the survival-promoting effect of high extracellular potassium concentrations. Our data indicate that increased network activity can prevent apoptosis in developing cortical neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antje Golbs
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
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34
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Cantero JL, Moreno-Lopez B, Portillo F, Rubio A, Hita-Yañez E, Avila J. Role of tau protein on neocortical and hippocampal oscillatory patterns. Hippocampus 2010; 21:827-34. [PMID: 20607795 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.20798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2010] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Tau is a neuronal microtubule-associated protein implicated in microtubules stabilization, axonal establishment and elongation during neuronal morphogenesis. Because of its elevated expression in neocortical regions and hippocampus, tau might play a role in sculpting collective neural responses underlying slow and fast brain oscillations and/or long-range synchronization patterns between hippocampus and neocortex. To test this hypothesis, local field potentials were recorded in tau-deficient (tau(-/-) ) and wild-type mice from different neocortical regions and from the hippocampus during spontaneous motor exploratory behavior. We found that tau(-/-) mice showed hippocampal theta slowing and reduced levels of gamma long-range synchronization involving the frontal cortex. We hypothesize that the lack of normal phosphorylated tau during early stages of development might influence the maturation of parvalbumin interneurons affecting the spatiotemporal structure of long-range gamma synchronization. Also, the proper functioning of gap-junction channels might be compromised by the absence of tau in hippocampal networks. Altogether, these results provide novel insights into the functional role of tau protein in the formation of collective neural responses and emergence of neocortical-hippocampal interactions in the mammalian brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose L Cantero
- Laboratory of Functional Neuroscience, Spanish Network of Excellence for Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain.
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35
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Gullo F, Mazzetti S, Maffezzoli A, Dossi E, Lecchi M, Amadeo A, Krajewski J, Wanke E. Orchestration of "presto" and "largo" synchrony in up-down activity of cortical networks. Front Neural Circuits 2010; 4:11. [PMID: 20461235 PMCID: PMC2866559 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2010.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2010] [Accepted: 03/21/2010] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been demonstrated using single-cell and multiunit electrophysiology in layer III entorhinal cortex and disinhibited hippocampal CA3 slices that the balancing of the up-down activity is characterized by both GABAA and GABAB mechanisms. Here we report novel results obtained using multi-electrode array (60 electrodes) simultaneous recordings from reverberating postnatal neocortical networks containing 19.2 ± 1.4% GABAergic neurons, typical of intact tissue. We observed that in each spontaneous active-state the total number of spikes in identified clusters of excitatory and inhibitory neurons is almost equal, thus suggesting a balanced average activity. Interestingly, in the active-state, the early phase is sustained by only 10% of the total spikes and the firing rate follows a sigmoidal regenerative mode up to peak at 35 ms with the number of excitatory spikes greater than inhibitory, therefore indicating an early unbalance. Concentration-response pharmacology of up- and down-state lifetimes in clusters of excitatory (n = 1067) and inhibitory (n = 305) cells suggests that, besides the GABAA and GABAB mechanisms, others such as GAT-1-mediated uptake, Ih, INaP and IM ion channel activity, robustly govern both up- and down-activity. Some drugs resulted to affect up- and/or down-states with different IC50s, providing evidence that various mechanisms are involved. These results should reinforce not only the role of synchrony in CNS networks, but also the recognized analogies between the Hodgkin–Huxley action potential and the population bursts as basic mechanisms for originating membrane excitability and CNS network synchronization, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Gullo
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca Milan, Italy
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36
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"Slow activity transients" in infant rat visual cortex: a spreading synchronous oscillation patterned by retinal waves. J Neurosci 2010; 30:4325-37. [PMID: 20335468 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4995-09.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A primary feature of the preterm infant electroencephalogram is the presence of large infra-slow potentials containing rapid oscillations called slow activity transients (SATs). Such activity has not been described in animal models, and their generative mechanisms are unknown. Here we use direct-current and multisite extracellular, as well as whole-cell, recording in vivo to demonstrate the existence of regularly repeating SATs in the visual cortex of infant rats before eye opening. Present only in absence of anesthesia, SATs at postnatal day 10-11 were identifiable as a separate group of long-duration (approximately 10 s) events that consisted of large (>1 mV) negative local-field potentials produced by the summation of multiple bursts of rapid oscillatory activity (15-30 Hz). SATs synchronized the vast majority of neuronal activity (87%) in the visual cortex before eye opening. Enucleation eliminated SATs, and their duration, interevent interval, and sub-burst structure matched those of phase III retinal waves recorded in vitro. Retinal waves, however, lacked rapid oscillations, suggesting that they arise centrally. Multielectrode recordings showed that SATs spread horizontally in cortex and synchronize activity at coactive locales via the rapid oscillations. SATs were clearly different from ongoing cortical activity, which was observable as a separate class of short bursts from postnatal day 9. Together, our data suggest that, in vivo, early cortical activity is primarily determined by peripheral inputs-retinal waves in visual cortex-that provide excitatory input, and by thalamocortical circuitry, which transforms this input to beta oscillations. We propose that the synchronous oscillations of SATs participate in the formation of visual circuitry.
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37
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Allene C, Cossart R. Early NMDA receptor-driven waves of activity in the developing neocortex: physiological or pathological network oscillations? J Physiol 2009; 588:83-91. [PMID: 19917570 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2009.178798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Several patterns of coherent activity have been described in developing cortical structures, thus providing a general framework for network maturation. A detailed timely description of network patterns at circuit and cell levels is essential for the understanding of pathogenic processes occurring during brain development. Disturbances in the expression timetable of this pattern sequence are very likely to affect network maturation. This review focuses on the maturation of coherent activity patterns in developing neocortical structures. It emphasizes the intrinsic and synaptic cellular properties that are unique to the immature neocortex and, in particular, the critical role played by extracellular glutamate in controlling network excitability and triggering synchronous network waves of activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Allene
- INSERM u901, Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée, Unité 01 Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Boîte Postale 13, Marseille 13273, France
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38
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Abstract
Periodic spontaneous activity represents an important attribute of the developing nervous system. The entorhinal cortex (EC) is a crucial component of the medial temporal lobe memory system. Yet, little is known about spontaneous activity in the immature EC. Here, we investigated spontaneous field potential (fp) activity and intrinsic firing patterns of medial EC layer III principal neurons in brain slices obtained from rats at the first two postnatal weeks. A fraction of immature layer III neurons spontaneously generated prolonged (2-20 s) voltage-dependent intrinsic bursting activity. Prolonged bursts were dependent on the extracellular concentration of Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](o)). Thus, reduction of [Ca(2+)](o) increased the fraction of neurons with prolonged bursting by inducing intrinsic bursts in regularly firing neurons. In 1 mm [Ca(2+)](o), the percentages of neurons showing prolonged bursts were 53%, 81%, and 29% at postnatal day 5 (P5)-P7, P8-P10, and P11-P13, respectively. Prolonged intrinsic bursting activity was blocked by buffering intracellular Ca(2+) with BAPTA, and by Cd(2+), flufenamic acid (FFA), or TTX, and was suppressed by nifedipine and riluzole, suggesting that the Ca(2+)-sensitive nonspecific cationic current (I(CAN)) and the persistent Na(+) current (I(Nap)) underlie this effect. Indeed, a 0.2-1 s suprathreshold current step stimulus elicited a terminated plateau potential in these neurons. fp recordings at P5-P7 showed periodic spontaneous glutamate receptor-mediated events (sharp fp events or prolonged fp bursts) which were blocked by FFA. Slow-wave network oscillations become a dominant pattern at P11-P13. We conclude that prolonged intrinsic bursting activity is a characteristic feature of developing medial EC layer III neurons that might be involved in neuronal and network maturation.
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Luhmann HJ, Kilb W, Hanganu-Opatz IL. Subplate cells: amplifiers of neuronal activity in the developing cerebral cortex. Front Neuroanat 2009; 3:19. [PMID: 19862346 PMCID: PMC2766272 DOI: 10.3389/neuro.05.019.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2009] [Accepted: 09/04/2009] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to their unique structural and functional properties, subplate cells are ideally suited to function as important amplifying units within the developing neocortical circuit. Subplate neurons have extensive dendritic and axonal ramifications and relatively mature functional properties, i.e. their action potential firing can exceed frequencies of 40 Hz. At earliest stages of corticogenesis subplate cells receive functional synaptic inputs from the thalamus and from other cortical and non-cortical sources. Glutamatergic and depolarizing GABAergic inputs arise from cortical neurons and neuromodulatory inputs arise from the basal forebrain and other sources. Activation of postsynaptic metabotropic receptors, i.e. muscarinic receptors, elicits in subplate neurons oscillatory burst discharges which are transmitted via electrical and chemical synapses to neighbouring subplate cells and to immature neurons in the cortical plate. The tonic non-synaptic release of GABA from GABAergic subplate cells facilitates the generation of burst discharges. These cellular bursts are amplified by prominent gap junction coupling in the subplate and cortical plate, thereby eliciting 10–20 Hz oscillations in a local columnar network. Thus, we propose that neuronal networks are organized at earliest stages in a gap junction coupled columnar syncytium. We postulate that the subplate does not only serve as a transient relay station for afferent inputs, but rather as an active element amplifying the afferent and intracortical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko J Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Mainz, Germany
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40
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Moruzzi AM, Abedini NC, Hansen MA, Olson JE, Bosma MM. Differential expression of membrane conductances underlies spontaneous event initiation by rostral midline neurons in the embryonic mouse hindbrain. J Physiol 2009; 587:5081-93. [PMID: 19736299 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2009.180091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous activity is expressed in many developing CNS structures and is crucial in correct network development. Previous work using [Ca(2+)](i) imaging showed that in the embryonic mouse hindbrain spontaneous activity is initiated by a driver population, the serotonergic neurons of the nascent raphe. Serotonergic neurons derived from former rhombomere 2 drive 90% of all hindbrain events at E11.5. We now demonstrate that the electrical correlate of individual events is a spontaneous depolarization, which originates at the rostral midline and drives events laterally. Midline events have both a rapid spike and a large plateau component, while events in lateral tissue comprise only a smaller amplitude plateau. Lateral cells have a large resting conductance and are highly coupled via neurobiotin-permeant gap junctions, while midline cells are significantly less gap junction-coupled and uniquely express a T-type Ca(2+) channel. We propose that the combination of low resting conductance and expression of T-type Ca(2+) current is permissive for midline neurons to acquire the initiator or driver phenotype, while cells without these features cannot drive activity. This demonstrates that expression of specific conductances contributes to the ability to drive spontaneous activity in a developing network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey M Moruzzi
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-1800, USA
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41
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Three patterns of oscillatory activity differentially synchronize developing neocortical networks in vivo. J Neurosci 2009; 29:9011-25. [PMID: 19605639 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.5646-08.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 231] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Coordinated patterns of electrical activity are important for the early development of sensory systems. The spatiotemporal dynamics of these early activity patterns and the role of the peripheral sensory input for their generation are essentially unknown. We performed extracellular multielectrode recordings in the somatosensory cortex of postnatal day 0 to 7 rats in vivo and observed three distinct patterns of synchronized oscillatory activity. (1) Spontaneous and periphery-driven spindle bursts of 1-2 s in duration and approximately 10 Hz in frequency occurred approximately every 10 s. (2) Spontaneous and sensory-driven gamma oscillations of 150-300 ms duration and 30-40 Hz in frequency occurred every 10-30 s. (3) Long oscillations appeared only every approximately 20 min and revealed the largest amplitude (250-750 microV) and longest duration (>40 s). These three distinct patterns of early oscillatory activity differently synchronized the neonatal cortical network. Whereas spindle bursts and gamma oscillations did not propagate and synchronized a local neuronal network of 200-400 microm in diameter, long oscillations propagated with 25-30 microm/s and synchronized 600-800 microm large ensembles. All three activity patterns were triggered by sensory activation. Single electrical stimulation of the whisker pad or tactile whisker activation elicited neocortical spindle bursts and gamma activity. Long oscillations could be only evoked by repetitive sensory stimulation. The neonatal oscillatory patterns in vivo depended on NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission and gap junctional coupling. Whereas spindle bursts and gamma oscillations may represent an early functional columnar-like pattern, long oscillations may serve as a propagating activation signal consolidating these immature neuronal networks.
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42
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Malmierca E, Castellanos NP, Nuñez-Medina A, Makarov VA, Nuñez A. Neuron synchronization in the rat gracilis nucleus facilitates sensory transmission in the somatosensory pathway. Eur J Neurosci 2009; 30:593-601. [PMID: 19686471 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.06855.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We have studied the role of the temporal correlation of multiple cell discharges in the facilitation of the somatosensory information transmission from the gracilis nucleus to the primary somatosensory (SI) cortex in anesthetized rats. Pairs of gracilis neurons or gracilis-SI cortical neurons were recorded during application of 20-ms tactile stimuli in control conditions and after electrical corticofugal stimulation. Cross-correlation of neural spike trains showed significant changes in synchronization of the neuron firing provoked by the corticofugal stimulation. To quantify the time-frequency alterations in the functional association within neuron pairs we used the wavelet coherence measure. We show that electrical stimulation of the SI cortex induces a short-lasting facilitation of tactile responses of projecting gracilis neurons if their receptive fields (RFs) overlap with the RF of the stimulated cortical area (matching condition). Moreover, synchronization of discharges of gracilis neurons with a common RF is increased by activation of the corticofugal projection. Synchronization is favored by a stimulus induced synchronous oscillatory activity of projecting neurons in the range 3-10 Hz. In the matching condition synchronous discharges in the gracilis increment the number of spikes elicited in the SI cortex. Thus the efficacy of the sensory transmission from the gracilis nucleus to the SI cortex is modulated by the corticofugal projection through two complementary mechanisms: (i) by changing the responsiveness (number of elicited spikes) of individual gracilis neurons; and (ii) by a dynamic consolidation of gracilis neurons with a common RF into microcircuits generating synchronous spikes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Malmierca
- Depto. de Anatomía Histología y Neurociencia, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Gullo F, Maffezzoli A, Dossi E, Wanke E. Short-latency cross- and autocorrelation identify clusters of interacting cortical neurons recorded from multi-electrode array. J Neurosci Methods 2009; 181:186-98. [PMID: 19447135 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2009.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2009] [Revised: 05/03/2009] [Accepted: 05/06/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Spontaneous bursting activity is present in vivo during CNS development and in vitro in neocortex slices. A prerequisite for understanding the cooperative behavior in neuronal ensembles is large-scale simultaneous extracellular electrophysiology by using either "tetrodes" (4-wire electrode) in awake animals or multi-electrode arrays (MEA) in long-term cultured networks as we did here. We show that from a single low-noise MEA electrode it is possible to identify up to 3-4 types of waveforms whose time stamps show excitatory and inhibitory short-latency (2-4 ms) cross-correlations, indicative of monosynaptic connections. Moreover, the MEA units autocorrelagrams (AC) resulted to have behaviors similar to those demonstrated in vivo by using tetrodes or shanks. Principal component analysis of AC followed by a K-means classification returned 3-4 different clusters whose firing- and burst-related properties were typical of assemblies of putative excitatory and inhibitory neurons. By manipulating the networks with a GABA(A) antagonist (gabazine), we could detect cell groups selectively responding to blockade of GABA transmission with IC(50)s of 82+/-2 and 770+/-70 nM. These methods, expanded to organotypic co-cultures of CNS regions may be useful to better understand their connecting properties in studies of regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Gullo
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, I-20126 Milan, Italy
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Sequential generation of two distinct synapse-driven network patterns in developing neocortex. J Neurosci 2009; 28:12851-63. [PMID: 19036979 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3733-08.2008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Developing cortical networks generate a variety of coherent activity patterns that participate in circuit refinement. Early network oscillations (ENOs) are the dominant network pattern in the rodent neocortex for a short period after birth. These large-scale calcium waves were shown to be largely driven by glutamatergic synapses albeit GABA is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the cortex at such early stages, mediating synapse-driven giant depolarizing potentials (GDPs) in the hippocampus. Using functional multineuron calcium imaging together with single-cell and field potential recordings to clarify distinct network dynamics in rat cortical slices, we now report that the developing somatosensory cortex generates first ENOs then GDPs, both patterns coexisting for a restricted time period. These patterns markedly differ by their developmental profile, dynamics, and mechanisms: ENOs are generated before cortical GDPs (cGDPs) by the activation of glutamatergic synapses mostly through NMDARs; cENOs are low-frequency oscillations (approximately 0.01 Hz) displaying slow kinetics and gradually involving the entire network. At the end of the first postnatal week, GABA-driven cortical GDPs can be reliably monitored; cGDPs are recurrent oscillations (approximately 0.1 Hz) that repetitively synchronize localized neuronal assemblies. Contrary to cGDPs, cENOs were unexpectedly facilitated by short anoxic conditions suggesting a contribution of glutamate accumulation to their generation. In keeping with this, alterations of extracellular glutamate levels significantly affected cENOs, which are blocked by an enzymatic glutamate scavenger. Moreover, we show that a tonic glutamate current contributes to the neuronal membrane excitability when cENOs dominate network patterns. Therefore, cENOs and cGDPs are two separate aspects of neocortical network maturation that may be differentially engaged in physiological and pathological processes.
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Corner MA. Spontaneous neuronal burst discharges as dependent and independent variables in the maturation of cerebral cortex tissue cultured in vitro: a review of activity-dependent studies in live 'model' systems for the development of intrinsically generated bioelectric slow-wave sleep patterns. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 59:221-44. [PMID: 18722470 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresrev.2008.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2008] [Revised: 08/01/2008] [Accepted: 08/05/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
A survey is presented of recent experiments which utilize spontaneous neuronal spike trains as dependent and/or independent variables in developing cerebral cortex cultures when synaptic transmission is interfered with for varying periods of time. Special attention is given to current difficulties in selecting suitable preparations for carrying out biologically relevant developmental studies, and in applying spike-train analysis methods with sufficient resolution to detect activity-dependent age and treatment effects. A hierarchy of synchronized nested burst discharges which approximate early slow-wave sleep patterns in the intact organism is established as a stable basis for isolated cortex function. The complexity of reported long- and short-term homeostatic responses to experimental interference with synaptic transmission is reviewed, and the crucial role played by intrinsically generated bioelectric activity in the maturation of cortical networks is emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Corner
- Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Hirsch S, Luhmann H. Pathway-specificity in N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor-mediated synaptic inputs onto subplate neurons. Neuroscience 2008; 153:1092-102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.01.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2007] [Revised: 01/17/2008] [Accepted: 01/22/2008] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Hanganu IL, Okabe A, Lessmann V, Luhmann HJ. Cellular Mechanisms of Subplate-Driven and Cholinergic Input-Dependent Network Activity in the Neonatal Rat Somatosensory Cortex. Cereb Cortex 2008; 19:89-105. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhn061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
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