QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (28) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Radnikow, G. Articles by Lübke, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Radnikow, G. Articles by Lübke, J.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

The Journal of Neuroscience, August 15, 2002, 22(16):6908-6919

Axonal Projection, Input and Output Synapses, and Synaptic Physiology of Cajal-Retzius Cells in the Developing Rat Neocortex

Gabriele Radnikow¹, Dirk Feldmeyer¹, and Joachim Lübke²

¹ Max Planck Institute of Medical Research, Department for Cell Physiology, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany, and ² Department of Anatomy, Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany

Cajal-Retzius (CR) cells are among the earliest generated neurons and are thought to play a role in corticogenesis and early neuronal migration. However, the role of CR cells in an early cortical microcircuit is still rather unclear. We therefore have investigated the morphology and physiology of CR cells by using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings combined with intracellular biocytin filling in acute brain slices of postnatal day 5-11 rats. CR cells are characterized by a long horizontally oriented dendrite; the axonal collaterals form a dense horizontally oriented plexus in layer 1 and to a certain extent in layer 2/3, projecting over >2 mm of cortical surface. The bouton density is relatively high, and synaptic contacts are established preferentially with dendritic spines or shafts of excitatory neurons, presumably terminal tuft dendrites of pyramidal neurons. In turn, CR cells receive dense GABAergic and non-GABAergic input on somata, dendritic shafts, and spine-like appendages.

Extracellular stimulation in layer 1 could activate both GABAergic and glutamatergic synaptic inputs. The GABAergic response was blocked by the GABA_A receptor antagonist bicuculline. The glutamatergic response was mediated solely by NMDA receptors and was highly sensitive to ifenprodil, indicating that it was mediated mainly via NR1/NR2B subunit-containing receptors. NMDA EPSPs were apparent in 1 mM extracellular Mg²⁺, suggesting that this pure NMDA synapse is not silent functionally. Together, the long-range horizontal projection of the axon, the high density of synaptic boutons, and the functional synaptic input of CR cells suggest that they are an integral part of an early cortical network.

Key words: Cajal-Retzius cells; layer 1; neocortex; input and output synapses; long-range horizontal axons; synaptic physiology

---

Copyright © 2002 Society for Neuroscience  0270-6474/02/22166908-12$05.00/0

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. Feldmeyer and G. Radnikow Developmental alterations in the functional properties of excitatory neocortical synapses J. Physiol., May 1, 2009; 587(9): 1889 - 1896. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Kirmse, A. Dvorzhak, R. Grantyn, and S. Kirischuk Developmental Downregulation of Excitatory GABAergic Transmission in Neocortical Layer I via Presynaptic Adenosine A1 Receptors Cereb Cortex, February 1, 2008; 18(2): 424 - 432. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Kirmse, A. Dvorzhak, C. Henneberger, R. Grantyn, and S. Kirischuk Cajal Retzius cells in the mouse neocortex receive two types of pre- and postsynaptically distinct GABAergic inputs J. Physiol., December 15, 2007; 585(3): 881 - 895. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Hanashima, M. Fernandes, J. M. Hebert, and G. Fishell The Role of Foxg1 and Dorsal Midline Signaling in the Generation of Cajal-Retzius Subtypes J. Neurosci., October 10, 2007; 27(41): 11103 - 11111. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Kirmse and S. Kirischuk Ambient GABA constrains the strength of GABAergic synapses at Cajal-Retzius cells in the developing visual cortex. J. Neurosci., April 19, 2006; 26(16): 4216 - 4227. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Wu and J. J. Hablitz Cooperative Activation of D1 and D2 Dopamine Receptors Enhances a Hyperpolarization-Activated Inward Current in Layer I Interneurons J. Neurosci., July 6, 2005; 25(27): 6322 - 6328. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Wang, M. Toledo-Rodriguez, A. Gupta, C. Wu, G. Silberberg, J. Luo, and H. Markram Anatomical, physiological and molecular properties of Martinotti cells in the somatosensory cortex of the juvenile rat J. Physiol., November 15, 2004; 561(1): 65 - 90. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Janusonis, V. Gluncic, and P. Rakic Early Serotonergic Projections to Cajal-Retzius Cells: Relevance for Cortical Development J. Neurosci., February 18, 2004; 24(7): 1652 - 1659. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Albrieux, J.-C. Platel, A. Dupuis, M. Villaz, and W. J. Moody Early Expression of Sodium Channel Transcripts and Sodium Current by Cajal-Retzius Cells in the Preplate of the Embryonic Mouse Neocortex J. Neurosci., February 18, 2004; 24(7): 1719 - 1725. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Zhu and J. J. Zhu Rapid Arrival and Integration of Ascending Sensory Information in Layer 1 Nonpyramidal Neurons and Tuft Dendrites of Layer 5 Pyramidal Neurons of the Neocortex J. Neurosci., February 11, 2004; 24(6): 1272 - 1279. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Soda, R. Nakashima, D. Watanabe, K. Nakajima, I. Pastan, and S. Nakanishi Segregation and Coactivation of Developing Neocortical Layer 1 Neurons J. Neurosci., July 16, 2003; 23(15): 6272 - 6279. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C.-H. Chan and H. H Yeh Enhanced GABAA receptor-mediated activity following activation of NMDA receptors in Cajal-Retzius cells in the developing mouse neocortex J. Physiol., July 1, 2003; 550(1): 103 - 111. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help