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Synaptic mechanisms underlying cholinergic control of thalamic reticular nucleus neurons
Author(s) -
Beierlein Michael
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2014.277376
Subject(s) - neuroscience , cholinergic , thalamus , thalamic reticular nucleus , basal forebrain , postsynaptic potential , acetylcholine , biology , cholinergic neuron , receptor , biochemistry , endocrinology
Neuronal networks of the thalamus are the target of extensive cholinergic projections from the basal forebrain and the brainstem. Activation of these afferents can regulate neuronal excitability, transmitter release, and firing patterns in thalamic networks, thereby altering the flow of sensory information during distinct behavioural states. However, cholinergic regulation in the thalamus has been primarily examined by using receptor agonist and antagonist, which has precluded a detailed understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics that govern cholinergic signalling under physiological conditions. This review summarizes recent studies on cholinergic synaptic transmission in the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), a brain structure intimately involved in the control of sensory processing and the generation of rhythmic activity in the thalamocortical system. This work has shown that acetylcholine (ACh) released from individual axons can rapidly and reliably activate both pre‐ and postsynaptic cholinergic receptors, thereby controlling TRN neuronal activity with high spatiotemporal precision.