Postsynaptic targets of somatostatin-immunoreactive interneurons in the rat hippocampus

Neuroscience. 1999 Jan;88(1):37-55. doi: 10.1016/s0306-4522(98)00302-9.

Abstract

Two characteristic interneuron types in the hippocampus, the so-called hilar perforant path-associated cells in the dentate gyrus and stratum oriens/lacunosum-moleculare neurons in the CA3 and CA1 regions, were suggested to be involved in feedback circuits. In the present study, interneurons identical to these cell populations were visualized by somatostatin-immunostaining, then reconstructed, and processed for double-immunostaining and electron microscopy to establish their postsynaptic target selectivity. A combination of somatostatin-immunostaining with immunostaining for GABA or other interneuron markers revealed a quasi-random termination pattern. The vast majority of postsynaptic targets were GABA-negative dendritic shafts and spines of principal cells (76%), whereas other target elements contained GABA (8%). All of the examined neurochemically defined interneuron types (parvalbumin-, calretinin-, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-, cholecystokinin-, substance P receptor-immunoreactive neurons) received innervation from somatostatin-positive boutons. Recent anatomical and electrophysiological data showed that the main excitatory inputs of somatostatin-positive interneurons originate from local principal cells. The present data revealed a massive GABAergic innervation of distal dendrites of local principal cells by these feedback driven neurons, which are proposed to control the efficacy and plasticity of entorhinal synaptic input as a function of local principal cell activity and synchrony.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dentate Gyrus / cytology
  • Dentate Gyrus / physiology
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / physiology*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interneurons / cytology
  • Interneurons / physiology*
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron
  • Models, Neurological
  • Neuronal Plasticity
  • Pyramidal Cells / cytology
  • Pyramidal Cells / physiology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Somatostatin / analysis*
  • Synapses / physiology*
  • Synapses / ultrastructure
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / analysis

Substances

  • Somatostatin
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid