Temporal dynamics of parvalbumin-expressing axo-axonic and basket cells in the rat medial prefrontal cortex in vivo

J Neurosci. 2012 Nov 14;32(46):16496-16502. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3475-12.2012.

Abstract

Axo-axonic interneurons, innervating exclusively axon initial segments, and parvalbumin-expressing basket interneurons, targeting somata, dendrites, and spines of pyramidal cells, have been proposed to control neuronal activity in prefrontal circuits. We recorded the spike-timing of identified neurons in the prelimbic cortex of anesthetized rats, and show that axo-axonic cells increase their firing during tail pinch-induced brain state-activation. In addition, axo-axonic cells differ from other GABAergic parvalbumin-expressing cells in their spike timing during DOWN- to UP-state transitions of slow oscillations and in their coupling to gamma and spindle oscillations. The distinct firing dynamics and synaptic targets of axo-axonic and other parvalbumin-expressing cells provide differential contributions to the temporal organization of prefrontal networks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axons / metabolism*
  • Dendrites / physiology
  • Electrophysiological Phenomena
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interneurons / metabolism*
  • Nerve Net / cytology
  • Nerve Net / physiology
  • Parvalbumins / metabolism*
  • Physical Stimulation
  • Prefrontal Cortex / cytology
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism*
  • Pyramidal Cells / physiology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • Parvalbumins