Interneurons hyperpolarize pyramidal cells along their entire somatodendritic axis

Nat Neurosci. 2009 Jan;12(1):21-3. doi: 10.1038/nn.2230. Epub 2008 Nov 23.

Abstract

Although GABAergic interneurons are the main source of synaptic inhibition in the cortex, activation of GABA(A) receptors has been shown to depolarize specific neuronal compartments, resulting in excitation. By using a noninvasive approach to monitor the effect of individual interneurons on the pyramidal cell population, we found that rat hippocampal interneurons hyperpolarized pyramidal cells irrespective of the location of their synapses along the somato-dendritic axis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Animals
  • Cell Polarity / physiology*
  • Dendrites / physiology*
  • Electrophysiology
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / physiology*
  • Interneurons / metabolism
  • Interneurons / physiology*
  • Pyramidal Cells / physiology*
  • Rats
  • Receptors, GABA-A / physiology
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism*

Substances

  • Receptors, GABA-A
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid