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Turning the heterogeneous into homogeneous: studies on selectively isolated GABAergic interneuron subsets
Author(s) -
Berghuis Paul,
Dobszay Marton B.,
Ibanez Raquel Martin,
Ernfors Patrik,
Harkany Tibor
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2004.07.012
Subject(s) - interneuron , neuroscience , gabaergic , biology , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , excitatory postsynaptic potential , parvalbumin , medium spiny neuron , central nervous system , basal ganglia
The amazing morphological and electrophysiological diversity of cortical GABAergic interneurons subserves the broad diversity of processes these cells modulate in neuronal networks. Until recently, interneuron development and functions have been extensively studied in heterogeneous in vitro and in vivo systems containing both excitatory and inhibitory components. However, mechanisms of interneuron specification during development, key signaling mechanisms controlling the establishment of particular inhibitory neuron subsets, and the spatial and temporal regulation of their integration in neuronal microcircuits remain poorly understood. Selective isolation of particular interneuron subsets may significantly extend our knowledge on the scenario of neurochemical and electrophysiological specification of developing interneurons, identification of signaling cues directing their axon growth, and principles of their anterograde and retrograde synaptic communication with other cell types. Here, we show that selective isolation of perisomatic inhibitory cells containing either parvalbumin or cholecystokinin reveals major differences in the temporal dynamics of their functional differentiation, and their dependence on target‐derived signals like brain‐derived neurotrophic factor and endocannabinoids. In addition, we discuss therapeutic prospects of modulating increased excitatory output in the hippocampus and subthalamic nucleus by re‐adjusting the inhibitory control of principal cells.