Cell type-specific separation of subicular principal neurons during network activities

Coupling of Sharp Wave Events between Zebrafish Hippocampal and Amygdala Homologs

The mammalian hippocampus exhibits spontaneous sharp wave events (1-30 Hz) with an often-present superimposed fast ripple oscillation (120-220 Hz) to form a sharp wave ripple (SWR) complex. During slow-wave sleep or quiet restfulness, SWRs result from the sequential spiking of hippocampal cell assemblies initially activated during learned or imagined experiences. Additional cortical/subcortical areas exhibit SWR events that are coupled to hippocampal SWRs, and studies in mammals suggest that coupling may be critical for the consolidation and recall of specific memories. In the present study, we have examined juvenile male and female zebrafish and show that SWR events are intrinsically generated and maintained within the telencephalon and that their hippocampal homolog, the anterodorsolateral lobe (ADL), exhibits SW events with ∼9% containing an embedded ripple (SWR). Single-cell calcium imaging coupled to local field potential recordings revealed that ∼10% of active cells in the dorsal telencephalon participate in any given SW event. Furthermore, fluctuations in cholinergic tone modulate SW events consistent with mammalian studies. Moreover, the basolateral amygdala (BLA) homolog exhibits SW events with ∼5% containing an embedded ripple. Computing the SW peak coincidence difference between the ADL and BLA showed bidirectional communication. Simultaneous coupling occurred more frequently within the same hemisphere, and in coupled events across hemispheres, the ADL more commonly preceded BLA. Together, these data suggest conserved mechanisms across species by which SW and SWR events are modulated, and memories may be transferred and consolidated through regional coupling.

Cell-specific switch for epileptiform activity: critical role of interneurons in the mouse subicular network

During epileptic seizures, neuronal network activity is hyper synchronized whereby GABAergic parvalbumin-interneurons may have a key role. Previous studies have mostly utilized 4-aminopyridine to induce epileptiform discharges in brain slices from healthy animals. However, it is not clear if the seizure-triggering ability of parvalbumin-interneurons also holds true without the use of external convulsive agents. Here, we investigate whether synchronized activation of parvalbumin-interneurons or principal cells can elicit epileptiform discharges in subiculum slices of epileptic mice. We found that selective synchronized activation of parvalbumin-interneurons or principal cells with optogenetics do not result in light-induced epileptiform discharges (LIEDs) neither in epileptic nor in normal brain slices. Adding 4-aminopyridine to slices, activation of parvalbumin-interneurons still failed to trigger LIEDs. In contrast, such activation of principal neurons readily generated LIEDs with features resembling afterdischarges. When GABAA receptor blocker was added to the perfusion medium, the LIEDs were abolished. These results demonstrate that in subiculum, selective synchronized activation of principal excitatory neurons can trigger epileptiform discharges by recruiting a large pool of downstream interneurons. This study also suggests region-specific role of principal neurons and interneurons in ictogenesis, opening towards differential targeting of specific brain areas for future treatment strategies tailored for individual patients with epilepsy.

Exposure to Short Photoperiod Regime Restores Spatial Cognition in Ventral Subicular Lesioned Rats: Potential Role of Hippocampal Plasticity, Glucocorticoid Receptors, and Neurogenesis

Ambient light influences our mood, behavior, and cognition. Phototherapy has been considered as an effective non-pharmacological intervention strategy in the restoration of cognitive functions following central nervous system insults. However, the cellular and molecular underpinnings of phototherapy-mediated functional recovery are yet to be studied. The present study examines the effectiveness of short photoperiod regime (SPR; 6:18-h light:dark cycle) in restoring the cognitive functions in ventral subicular lesioned rats. Bilateral ventral subicular lesion (VSL) resulted in significant impairment of spatial navigational abilities when tested in the Morris water maze (MWM) task. Further, VSL resulted in reduced expression of glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) and activity-regulated cytoskeletal (Arc) protein and suppression of neurogenesis in the hippocampus. VSL also suppressed the magnitude of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampal Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses. However, exposure to SPR for 21 days showed significant restoration of spatial performance in the MWM task as the ventral subicular lesioned rats could deploy higher cognitive allocentric navigational strategies to reach the hidden platform. Further, SPR resulted in enhanced expression of hippocampal GR and Arc protein and neurogenesis but not hippocampal LTP suggestive of appropriate need-based SPR intervention. In conclusion, the study demonstrates the effectiveness of SPR in establishing functional recovery as well as the possible molecular and cellular basis of cognitive recovery in a rat model of neurodegeneration. Such studies provide a framework in understanding the efficacy of non-pharmacological strategies in establishing functional recovery in neurodegenerative conditions.

Subiculum as a generator of sharp wave-ripples in the rodent hippocampus

Sharp wave-ripples (SWRs) represent synchronous discharges of hippocampal neurons and are believed to play a major role in memory consolidation. A large body of evidence suggests that SWRs are exclusively generated in the CA3-CA2 network. In contrast, here, we provide several lines of evidence showing that the subiculum can function as a secondary SWRs generator. SWRs with subicular origin propagate forward into the entorhinal cortex as well as backward into the hippocampus proper. Our findings suggest that the output structures of the hippocampus are not only passively facilitating the transfer of SWRs to the cortex, but they also can actively contribute to the genesis of SWRs. We hypothesize that SWRs with a subicular origin may be important for the consolidation of information conveyed to the hippocampus via the temporoammonic pathway.

Imbrosci et al. show that the subiculum can work as a secondary generator of sharp wave-ripples (SWRs). SWRs with their origin in subiculum can propagate to the entorhinal cortex and backward to CA1 and CA3.

Synaptic organisation and behaviour-dependent activity of mGluR8a-innervated GABAergic trilaminar cells projecting from the hippocampus to the subiculum

In the hippocampal CA1 area, the GABAergic trilaminar cells have their axon distributed locally in three layers and also innervate the subiculum. Trilaminar cells have a high level of somato-dendritic muscarinic M2 acetylcholine receptor, lack somatostatin expression and their presynaptic inputs are enriched in mGluR8a. But the origin of their inputs and their behaviour-dependent activity remain to be characterised. Here we demonstrate that (1) GABAergic neurons with the molecular features of trilaminar cells are present in CA1 and CA3 in both rats and mice. (2) Trilaminar cells receive mGluR8a-enriched GABAergic inputs, e.g. from the medial septum, which are probably susceptible to hetero-synaptic modulation of neurotransmitter release by group III mGluRs. (3) An electron microscopic analysis identifies trilaminar cell output synapses with specialised postsynaptic densities and a strong bias towards interneurons as targets, including parvalbumin-expressing cells in the CA1 area. (4) Recordings in freely moving rats revealed the network state-dependent segregation of trilaminar cell activity, with reduced firing during movement, but substantial increase in activity with prolonged burst firing (> 200 Hz) during slow wave sleep. We predict that the behaviour-dependent temporal dynamics of trilaminar cell firing are regulated by their specialised inhibitory inputs. Trilaminar cells might support glutamatergic principal cells by disinhibition and mediate the binding of neuronal assemblies between the hippocampus and the subiculum via the transient inhibition of local interneurons.

Heterogeneity within classical cell types is the rule: lessons from hippocampal pyramidal neurons

The mechanistic operation of brain regions is often interpreted by partitioning constituent neurons into 'cell types'. Historically, such cell types were broadly defined by their correspondence to gross features of the nervous system (such as cytoarchitecture). Modern-day neuroscientific techniques, enabling a more nuanced examination of neuronal properties, have illustrated a wealth of heterogeneity within these classical cell types. Here, we review the extent of this within-cell-type heterogeneity in one of the simplest cortical regions of the mammalian brain, the rodent hippocampus. We focus on the mounting evidence that the classical CA3, CA1 and subiculum pyramidal cell types all exhibit prominent and spatially patterned within-cell-type heterogeneity, and suggest these cell types provide a model system for exploring the organization and function of such heterogeneity. Given that the hippocampus is structurally simple and evolutionarily ancient, within-cell-type heterogeneity is likely to be a general and crucial feature of the mammalian brain.

Routes to, from and within the subiculum

The subiculum is one of the major output areas of the hippocampus and has extensive projections to extrahippocampal targets. It is likely to play a pivotal role in the distribution of outgoing information from the hippocampus. The hippocampus, including the subiculum, is important for the formation, consolidation and retrieval of memory. These functions require a network that is flexible enough to encode incoming information and also allows for reliable distribution, storage and integration into previously encoded memories. Finally, relevant information has to be retrieved in a context-specific manner to allow for an appropriate behavioral response. The subiculum as a gateway between the hippocampus and cortex might serve to integrate and process information from the hippocampus proper and its other inputs before conveying it to more permanent storage locations. This review summarizes how the subiculum is embedded into upstream and downstream circuits, describes what is known about the local network topology and discusses cellular and functional properties of subicular cells subtypes. Lastly, it describes how these properties might help to separate information into parallel output streams and distribute it to its multiple target areas.

In vitro characterization of gamma oscillations in the hippocampal formation of the domestic chick

Avian and mammalian brains have evolved independently from each other for about 300 million years. During that time, the hippocampal formation (HF) has diverged in morphology and cytoarchitecture, but seems to have conserved much of its function. It is therefore an open question how seemingly different neural organizations can generate the same function. A prominent feature of the mammalian hippocampus is that it generates different neural oscillations, including the gamma rhythm, which plays an important role in memory processing. In this study, we investigate whether the avian hippocampus also generates gamma oscillations, and whether similar pharmacological mechanisms are involved in this function. We investigated the existence of gamma oscillations in avian HF using in vitro electrophysiology in P0–P12 domestic chick (Gallus gallus domesticus) HF brain slices. Persistent gamma frequency oscillations were induced by the bath application of the cholinergic agonist carbachol, but not by kainate, a glutamate receptor agonist. Similar to other species, carbachol‐evoked gamma oscillations were sensitive to GABA_A, AMPA/kainate and muscarinic (M1) receptor antagonism. Therefore, similar to mammalian species, muscarinic receptor‐activated avian HF gamma oscillations may arise via a pyramidal‐interneuron gamma (PING)‐based mechanism. Gamma oscillations are most prominent in the ventromedial area of the hippocampal slices, and gamma power is reduced more laterally and dorsally in the HF. We conclude that similar micro‐circuitry may exist in the avian and mammalian hippocampal formation, and this is likely to relate to the shared function of the two structures.

The role of T-type calcium channels in the subiculum: to burst or not to burst?

KEY POINTS

Pharmacological, molecular and genetic data indicate a prominent role of low-voltage-activated T-type calcium channels (T-channels) in the firing activity of both pyramidal and inhibitory interneurons in the subiculum. Pharmacological inhibition of T-channels switched burst firing with lower depolarizing stimuli to regular spiking, and fully abolished hyperpolarization-induced burst firing. Our molecular studies showed that Ca_V 3.1 is the most abundantly expressed isoform of T-channels in the rat subiculum. Consistent with this finding, both regular-spiking and burst firing patterns were profoundly depressed in the mouse with global deletion of Ca_V 3.1 isoform of T-channels. Selective inhibition of T-channels and global deletion of Ca_V 3.1 channels completely suppressed development of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1-subiculum, but not in the CA3-CA1 pathway.

ABSTRACT

Several studies suggest that voltage-gated calcium currents are involved in generating high frequency burst firing in the subiculum, but the exact nature of these currents remains unknown. Here, we used selective pharmacology, molecular and genetic approaches to implicate Cav3.1-containing T-channels in subicular burst firing, in contrast to several previous reports discounting T-channels as major contributors to subicular neuron physiology. Furthermore, pharmacological antagonism of T-channels, as well as global deletion of CaV3.1 isoform, completely suppressed development of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1-subiculum, but not in the CA3-CA1 pathway. Our results indicate that excitability and synaptic plasticity of subicular neurons relies heavily on T-channels. Hence, T-channels may be a promising new drug target for different cognitive deficits.

Exposure to short photoperiod regime reduces ventral subicular lesion-induced anxiety-like behavior in Wistar rats

Neurodegeneration of hippocampal structures is implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Patients with AD exhibit 'sundown syndrome' featuring mood swings and anxiety. Although there are studies demonstrating circadian rhythm disruption associated with sundown phenomenon, the mechanisms underlying the emotional disturbances remain elusive. In the present study, we examined the relationship between subiculum (a key hippocampal output structure) and anxiety. Our study demonstrates that bilateral ventral subicular lesion (VSL) leads to anxiogenic behavior. In the elevated plus maze test, VSL rats made less number of entries into the open arms and spent significantly more time in the closed arms. Similarly, in the light-dark exploration test, VSL rats spent significantly more time in the dark chamber and made fewer entries into the light chamber. VSL also produced significant neurodegeneration in the paraventricular, suprachiasmatic and dorsomedial nuclei of the hypothalamus. Exposing VSL rats to a short photoperiod regime (SPR; 06/18h light-dark cycle) for 21days ameliorated the anxiety-like behavior. VSL rats on SPR also exhibited increased food consumption and higher core body temperature. Our study supports the hypothesis that the ventral subiculum regulates anxiety-like behavior and that SPR helps in the alleviation of such behavior. Even though the mechanisms underlying anxiolytic effects of light-dark cycle manipulation are yet to be elucidated, such non-pharmacological strategies can help to mitigate anxiety-like behavior. A proper understanding of the effectiveness of photoperiod manipulation will help in developing strategies in the management of emotional disturbances associated with affective and neurodegenerative disorders including AD.

Heterogeneous spatial representation by different subpopulations of neurons in the subiculum

The subiculum is a pivotal structure located in the hippocampal formation that receives inputs from grid and place cells and that mediates the output from the hippocampus to cortical and sub-cortical areas. Previous studies have demonstrated the existence of boundary vector cells (BVC) in the subiculum, as well as exceptional stability during recordings conducted in the dark, suggesting that the subiculum is involved in the coding of allocentric cues and also in path integration. In order to better understand the role of the subiculum in spatial processing and the coding of external cues, we recorded subicular units in freely moving rats while performing two experiments: the "size experiment" in which we modified the arena size, and the "barrier experiment" in which we inserted new barriers in a familiar open field thus dividing the enclosure into four comparable sub-chambers. We hypothesized that if physical boundaries were deterministic of the firing of subicular units a strong spatial replication pattern would be found in most spatially modulated units. In contrast, our results demonstrate heterogeneous space coding by different cell types: place cells, barrier-related units and BVC. We also found units characterized by narrow spike waveforms, most likely belonging to axonal recordings, that showed grid-like patterns. Our data indicate that the subiculum codes space in a flexible manner, and that it is involved in the processing of allocentric information, external cues and path integration, thus broadly supporting spatial navigation.

Cellular and System Biology of Memory: Timing, Molecules, and Beyond

The storage of information in the mammalian nervous systems is dependent on a delicate balance between change and stability of neuronal networks. The induction and maintenance of processes that lead to changes in synaptic strength to a multistep process which can lead to long-lasting changes, which starts and ends with a highly choreographed and perfectly timed dance of molecules in different cell types of the central nervous system. This is accompanied by synchronization of specific networks, resulting in the generation of characteristic "macroscopic" rhythmic electrical fields, whose characteristic frequencies correspond to certain activity and information-processing states of the brain. Molecular events and macroscopic fields influence each other reciprocally. We review here cellular processes of synaptic plasticity, particularly functional and structural changes, and focus on timing events that are important for the initial memory acquisition, as well as mechanisms of short- and long-term memory storage. Then, we cover the importance of epigenetic events on the long-time range. Furthermore, we consider how brain rhythms at the network level participate in processes of information storage and by what means they participating in it. Finally, we examine memory consolidation at the system level during processes of sleep.

Functional Diversity of Subicular Principal Cells during Hippocampal Ripples

Cortical and hippocampal oscillations play a crucial role in the encoding, consolidation, and retrieval of memory. Sharp-wave associated ripples have been shown to be necessary for the consolidation of memory. During consolidation, information is transferred from the hippocampus to the neocortex. One of the structures at the interface between hippocampus and neocortex is the subiculum. It is therefore well suited to mediate the transfer and distribution of information from the hippocampus to other areas. By juxtacellular and whole-cell-recordings in awake mice, we show here that in the subiculum a subset of pyramidal cells is activated, whereas another subset is inhibited during ripples. We demonstrate that these functionally different subgroups are predetermined by their cell subtype. Bursting cells are selectively used to transmit information during ripples, whereas the firing probability in regular firing cells is reduced. With multiple patch-clamp recordings in vitro, we show that the cell subtype-specific differences extend into the local network topology. This is reflected in an asymmetric wiring scheme where bursting cells and regular firing cells are recurrently connected among themselves but connections between subtypes exclusively exist from regular to bursting cells. Furthermore, inhibitory connections are more numerous onto regular firing cells than onto bursting cells. We conclude that the network topology contributes to the observed functional diversity of subicular pyramidal cells during sharp-wave associated ripples.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Memory consolidation is dependent on hippocampal activity patterns, so called hippocampal ripples. During these fast oscillations, memory traces are transferred from the hippocampus to the neocortex via the subiculum. We investigated the role of single cells in the subiculum during ripples and found that, dependent on their subtype, they are preferentially activated or inhibited. In addition, these two subtypes, the bursting and regular firing type, are differentially integrated into the local network: inhibitory cells are more densely connected to regular firing cells, and communication between regular and bursting cells is unidirectional. Together with earlier findings on different preferential target regions of these subtypes, we conclude that memory traces are guided to target regions of the activated cell type.

Neural Activity Patterns Underlying Spatial Coding in the Hippocampus

The hippocampus is well known as a central site for memory processing-critical for storing and later retrieving the experiences events of daily life so they can be used to shape future behavior. Much of what we know about the physiology underlying hippocampal function comes from spatial navigation studies in rodents, which have allowed great strides in understanding how the hippocampus represents experience at the cellular level. However, it remains a challenge to reconcile our knowledge of spatial encoding in the hippocampus with its demonstrated role in memory-dependent tasks in both humans and other animals. Moreover, our understanding of how networks of neurons coordinate their activity within and across hippocampal subregions to enable the encoding, consolidation, and retrieval of memories is incomplete. In this chapter, we explore how information may be represented at the cellular level and processed via coordinated patterns of activity throughout the subregions of the hippocampal network.