Pyramidal Neurons in Prefrontal Cortex Receive Subtype-Specific Forms of Excitation and Inhibition
Open accessAbstract
Layer 5 pyramidal neurons comprise at least two subtypes: thick-tufted, subcortically projecting type A neurons, with prominent h-current, and thin-tufted, callosally projecting type B neurons, which lack prominent h-current. Using optogenetic stimulation, we find that these subtypes receive distinct forms of input that could subserve divergent functions. Repeatedly stimulating callosal inputs evokes progressively smaller excitatory responses in type B but not type A neurons. Callosal inputs also elicit more spikes in type A neurons. Surprisingly, these effects arise via distinct mechanisms. Differences in the dynamics of excitatory responses seem to reflect differences in presynaptic input, whereas differences in spiking depend on postsynaptic mechanisms. We also find that fast-spiking parvalbumin interneurons, but not somatostatin interneurons, preferentially inhibit type A neurons, leading to greater feedforward inhibition in this subtype. These differences may enable type A neurons to detect salient inputs that are focused in space and time, while type B neurons integrate across these dimensions.
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Multiple studies strongly suggest that subtype specific microcircuits indeed exist, even among PVBCs.
“However, multiple studies have challenged this view and strongly suggest that subtype specific microcircuits indeed exist, even among PVBCs (650, 656, 1230, 1252).”
From Hippocampal GABAergic Inhibitory Interneurons (2017) · cites this paper as [650]
In the neocortex, PVBCs are more likely to innervate PCs that project to subcerebral targets than those that project within the telencephalon.
“In the neocortex, PVBCs are more likely to innervate PCs that project to subcerebral targets (e.g, brain stem and spinal cord) than those that project within the telencephalon (e.g., callosal) (650, 1249) (FIGURE 8B).”
From Hippocampal GABAergic Inhibitory Interneurons (2017) · cites this paper as [650]
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- Authors
- Lee, A. T., Gee, S. M., Vogt, D., Patel, T., Rubenstein, J. L., & Sohal, V. S.
- Affiliations
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- Corresponding author
- Sohal, Vikaas S.
- Venue
- Neuron
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2014-01
- Volume
- 81
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 61-68
- ISSN
- 0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3947199
- OpenAlex
- W2096093149
- Cited by
- 201
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 11
- FWCI
- 7.68
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Neuron (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R00MH085946, DP2MH100011, R37MH049428)
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (T32GM007618, GM07618)
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (DP2 MH100011)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Keywords
- layer 5 pyramidal neurons, prefrontal cortex, neuronal cell types, hyperpolarization-activated current, subcortical projections, somatostatin interneurons, feedforward inhibition, presynaptic input, postsynaptic mechanisms, optogenetic stimulation, spike frequency adaptation
- MeSH terms
- Channelrhodopsins, Action Potentials, Dependovirus, Animals, Calcium, Electric Stimulation, Female, Male, Nerve Net, Neural Inhibition, Neural Pathways, Synapses, Transduction, Genetic, Prefrontal Cortex, Pyramidal Cells, Neurotransmitter Agents, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials, Green Fluorescent Proteins, Mice, In Vitro Techniques
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