Correlated morphological and neurochemical features identify different subsets of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactive interneurons in rat hippocampus

Nucleus reuniens thalami modulates activity in hippocampal field CA1 through excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms

The nucleus reuniens thalami (RE) originates dense projections to CA1, forming asymmetrical synapses on spines (50%) and dendrites (50%). The hypothesis that RE input modulates transmission in CA1 through excitation of both pyramidal cells and interneurons was tested using electrophysiological methods in the anesthetized rat. The RE-CA1 afferents were selectively stimulated at their origin; evoked field potentials and unit activity were recorded in CA1. RE-evoked depth profiles showed a prominent negative deflection in the stratum lacunosum-moleculare and a positive one in the stratum radiatum. The lacunosum-moleculare sink-radiatum source configuration is compatible with RE-elicited depolarization of apical dendrites of pyramidal cells. Despite a consistent and robust paired pulse facilitation of RE-evoked field potentials, population spikes in the stratum pyramidale were not detected at any tested condition. This indicates the inability of RE-CA1 input to discharge pyramidal cells. However, stimulation of RE-elicited spiking of extracellularly recorded units in strata oriens/alveus and distal radiatum, indicative of the activation of local interneurons. Thus, RE seems to modulate transmission in CA1 through a (subthreshold) depolarization of pyramidal cells and a suprathreshold excitation of putative inhibitory oriens/alveus and radiatum interneurons. RE-evoked monosynaptic or disynaptic field potentials were associated with stimulation of rostral or caudal RE, respectively. Anatomically, a projection from caudal to rostral RE was demonstrated that can account for the disynaptic RE-CA1 input. Because caudal RE receives input from the hippocampus via the subiculum, we propose the existence of a closed RE-hippocampal circuit that allows RE to modulate the activity in CA1, depending on hippocampal output.

Distribution of nonprincipal neurons in the rat hippocampus, with special reference to their dorsoventral difference

In the present study we examined the distribution of chemically identified subpopulations of nonprincipal neurons in the rat hippocampus, focusing on the dorsoventral differences in their distributions. The subpopulations analyzed were those immunoreactive for parvalbumin, calretinin, nitric oxide synthase, somatostatin, calbindin D28K, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and cholecystokinin. Using a confocal laser scanning light microscope, we could confirm that the penetration of each immunostaining, except that of calbindin D28K, was complete throughout 50 microns thick sections under our immunostaining conditions. We counted numbers of immunoreactive somata according to the 'dissector' principle, measured areas of hippocampal subdivisions and the thickness of sections, and estimated the approximate numerical densities of these subpopulations, especially for those neurons immunoreactive for nitric oxide synthase, calretinin, somatostatin and parvalbumin. Generally speaking, neurons immunoreactive for parvalbumin showed no significant dorsoventral differences in the numerical densities in any of the subdivisions of the hippocampus, whereas the numerical densities of somata immunoreactive for calretinin, nitric oxide synthase and somatostatin were significantly larger in ventral levels than at dorsal levels of the hippocampus. The numerical density of somatostatin neurons was significantly larger in ventral levels than in dorsal levels of the denate gyrus, and, although not prominent, of the CA1 region. That of nitric oxide synthase positive neurons was significantly larger in ventral levels than in dorsal levels of the CA3 region as well as of the DG but not of the CA1 region. The numerical density of calretinin positive neurons was larger in ventral levels than in dorsal levels of all hippocampal subdivisions. The present study also revealed that dorsal and ventral levels of the hippocampus differ from each other in the composition of their nonprincipal neurons.

Activation of interneurons at the stratum oriens/alveus border suppresses excitatory transmission to apical dendrites in the CA1 area of the mouse hippocampus

The consequences of activation or inactivation of interneurons at the CA1 stratum oriens/ alveus border for signal transmission at the apical dendritic region of pyramidal cells were investigated in slices from mice submerged in a perfusion chamber. A characteristic subpopulation of interneurons with a horizontal dendritic tree in this region, which sends a GABAergic projection to the apical dendrites of CA1 pyramidal cells is strongly excited by metabotropic glutamate receptor activation and receives GABAergic input from vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing interneurons. Pressure ejection of glutamate or the metabotropic agonist 1s,3r-aminocyclopentane dicarboxylic acid from micropipettes onto the stratum oriens/alveus border caused a long lasting (more than 90 min) decrease of field-excitatory postsynaptic potentials in the strata radiatum and lacunosum-moleculare. The GABAB antagonist CGP 35348 (100 microM in the perfusion fluid) partially and reversibly blocked this effect. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide- (0.1 microM in the bath) excited neurons with response and firing properties characteristic for interneurons at the oriens/alveus border. Local pressure application of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (10 microM) to the alveus region led, after a brief (2 min) and small (10%) increase, to a longer lasting (30-50 min) decrease (by 20-30%) in the slope of the field-excitatory postsynaptic potential in strata radiatum and lacunosum-moleculare. This action was completely blocked by bath application of CGP 35348. Local application of tetrodotoxin in the stratum oriens/alveus region markedly increased the slope of evoked dendritic excitatory postsynaptic potentials, and caused multiple firing of pyramidal cells. Thus, stratum oriens/alveus interneurons have a profound inhibitory effect on signal transmission in the apical dendritic area of CA1, which is, at least in part, mediated by GABAB receptors. It appears that the GABAB receptor-mediated effect in stratum lacunosum-moleculare is produced by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-sensitive interneurons.

Different populations of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactive interneurons are specialized to control pyramidal cells or interneurons in the hippocampus

The postsynaptic targets of three vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing GABAergic interneuron types were examined in the rat hippocampus. Two of them showed remarkable target selectivity for other GABAergic neurons, while the third contacted the somata and proximal dendrites of pyramidal cells. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-positive interneurons innervating the stratum oriens/alveus border in the CA1 region were shown to establish multiple contacts with horizontal GABAergic interneurons immunoreactive for type 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor. Similarly, identified axons of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-positive interneurons projecting to stratum radiatum were found to establish symmetrical synapses largely on GABAergic dendrites. The majority of these postsynaptic GABAergic neurons were shown to contain calbindin or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. In contrast to the first two vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing cell populations, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-positive interneurons arborizing in stratum pyramidale formed baskets around pyramidal cells. These results revealed a new element in cortical microcircuits, interneurons which are specialized to innervate other GABAergic interneurons. The role of this new component may be the synchronization of dendritic inhibition, or an input-specific disinhibition of pyramidal cells in various dendritic domains. In contrast, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing basket cells are likely to be involved in perisomatic inhibition of pyramidal neurons, and represents a new basket cell type different from that containing parvalbumin.

Interneurons containing calretinin are specialized to control other interneurons in the rat hippocampus

Spine-free calretinin-immunoreactive (CR-IR) interneurons form a subpopulation of GABAergic cells in the rat hippocampus. A characteristic feature of these cells--located in all areas and layers--is the frequent dendro-dendritic and axo-dendritic contacts they form with each other. In this study we examined in detail the connectivity of these neurons by reconstructing their dendritic and axonal arbor and by identifying their postsynaptic targets. Radially running dendrites of CR-IR cells, located in different layers, intermingled into long braids. An average cell was in contact with dendrites of three to seven other CR-IR cells. Reconstruction of the dendritic trees from six consecutive sections demonstrated that at least 15 cells may participate in a dendro-dendritically connected cluster. Electron microscopical examination revealed that regularly spaced zonula adherentia connect the touching dendrites. The postsynaptic targets of CR-IR neurons have been examined using postembedding immunogold staining for GABA. CR-containing GABA-immunoreactive axons of local origin formed multiple symmetrical synaptic contacts (two to five) exclusively on GABAergic dendrites (CR-negative as well as CR-positive). Two to 10 CR-IR axons may converge onto a single CR-IR neuron, often from cells belonging to the same dendro-dendritically connected cluster. Using double immunocytochemistry, CR-IR cells were shown to heavily innervate calbindin D28k-containing interneurons and VIP-containing basket cells but avoided the parvalbumin-containing basket and axo-axonic cells. The unique connectivity of CR-IR cells may enable them to play a crucial role in the generation of synchronous, rhythmic hippocampal activity by controlling other interneurons terminating on different dendritic and somatic compartments of principal cells.

Pyramidal cell dendrites are the primary targets of calbindin D28k-immunoreactive interneurons in the hippocampus

The axonal arborization and postsynaptic targets of calbindin D28k (CB)-immunoreactive nonprincipal neurons have been studied in the rat dorsal hippocampus. Two types of neurons were distinguished on the basis of soma location, the characteristics of the dendritic free, and the axon arborisation pattern. Type I cells were located in stratum radiatum of the CA1 and CA3 regions and occasionally in strata pyramidale and oriens. These cells had multipolar or bitufted dendritic trees primarily located in stratum radiatum. Their axons could be followed for a considerable distance, arborised within stratum radiatum, and were covered with regularly spaced small boutons. As demonstrated with postembedding immunogold staining, their axon terminals were gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) immunoreactive, and formed symmetrical synapses predominantly on proximal and distal dendrites of pyramidal cells (28% and 58%, respectively), and occasionally on spines (9%) or on GABA-positive dendrites (5%). Type II cells were found exclusively in stratum oriens of the CA1 and CA3 regions and possessed large, fusiform cell bodies and long, horizontally oriented dendrites. Their axon initial segments turned towards the alveus and disappeared in a myelin sheet, which was often possible to follow into the white matter. We conclude that type I CB-immunoreactive cells are likely to represent a major source of inhibitory synapses in the dendritic region of pyramidal cells, which are responsible for the control of dendritic electrogenesis. The distribution of local collaterals of type II cells-if they have any-remains unknown, but their main axon is likely to project to the medial septum.

Synaptic target selectivity and input of GABAergic basket and bistratified interneurons in the CA1 area of the rat hippocampus

To assess the position of interneurons in the hippocampal network, fast spiking cells were recorded intracellularly in vitro and filled with biocytin. Sixteen non-principal cells were selected on the basis of 1) cell bodies located in the pyramidal layer and in the middle of the slice, 2) extensive labeling of their axons, and 3) a branching pattern of the axon indicating that they were not axo-axonic cells. Examination of their efferent synapses (n = 400) demonstrated that the cells made synapses on cell bodies, dendritic shafts, spines, and axon initial segments (AIS). Statistical analysis of the distribution of different postsynaptic elements, together with published data (n = 288) for 12 similar cells, showed that the interneurons were heterogeneous with regard to the frequency of synapses given to different parts of pyramidal cells. When the cells were grouped according to whether they had less or more than 40% somatic synaptic targets, each population appeared homogeneous. The population (n = 19) innervating a high proportion of somata (53 +/- 10%, SD) corresponds to basket cells. They also form synapses with proximal dendrites (44 +/- 12%) and rarely with AISs and spines. One well-filled basket cell had 8,859 boutons within the slice, covering an area of 0.331 mm2 of pyramidal layer tangentially and containing 7,150 pyramidal cells, 933 (13%) of which were calculated to be innervated, assuming that each pyramidal cell received nine to ten synapses. It was extrapolated that the intact axon probably had about 10,800 boutons innervating 1,140 pyramids. The proportion of innervated pyramidal cells decreased from 28% in the middle to 4% at the edge of the axonal field. The other group of neurons, the bistratified cells (n = 9), showed a preference for dendritic shafts (79 +/- 8%) and spines (17 +/- 8%) as synaptic targets, rarely terminating on somata (4 +/- 8%). Their axonal field was significantly larger (1,250 +/- 180 microns) in the medio-lateral direction than that of basket cells (760 +/- 130 microns). The axon terminals of bistratified cells were smaller than those of basket cells. Furthermore, in constrast to bistratified cells, basket cells had a significant proportion of dendrites in stratum lacunosum-moleculare suggesting a direct entorhinal input. The results define two distinct types of GABAergic neuron innervating pyramidal cells in a spatially segregated manner and predict different functions for the two inputs. The perisomatic termination of basket cells is suited for the synchronization of a subset of pyramidal cells that they select from the population within their axonal field, whereas the termination of bistratified cells in conjunction with Schaffer collateral/commissural terminals may govern the timing of CA3 input and/or voltage-dependent conductances in the dendrites.