Cited by 1,491Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNeural dynamics and brain functionMedical and Biological Sciences

Petilla terminology: nomenclature of features of GABAergic interneurons of the cerebral cortex

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The Petilla Interneuron Nomenclature Group (PING)·2008·Nature Reviews Neuroscience

Abstract

Neuroscience produces a vast amount of data from an enormous diversity of neurons. A neuronal classification system is essential to organize such data and the knowledge that is derived from them. Classification depends on the unequivocal identification of the features that distinguish one type of neuron from another. The problems inherent in this are particularly acute when studying cortical interneurons. To tackle this, we convened a representative group of researchers to agree on a set of terms to describe the anatomical, physiological and molecular features of GABAergic interneurons of the cerebral cortex. The resulting terminology might provide a stepping stone towards a future classification of these complex and heterogeneous cells. Consistent adoption will be important for the success of such an initiative, and we also encourage the active involvement of the broader scientific community in the dynamic evolution of this project.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nrn2402

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  • The Petilla de Aragon consensus effort did not achieve a consensus classification of cortical interneurons; instead it produced a document on features that can distinguish interneuron subtypes.

    “an effort to come to a consensus on IN classification in the cerebral cortex that took place a few years ago in Petilla de Aragon, the birthplace of Ramon y Cajal, did not succeed in accomplishing this goal. Instead, we produced a document discussing the features that can be a basis for distinguishing among IN subtypes”

    From GABAergic Interneurons in the Neocortex: From Cellular Properties to Circuits (2016) · cites this paper as Ascoli et al., 2008

  • Interneuron subtypes differ in expression of molecules such as calcium-binding proteins and neuropeptides.

    “IN subtypes differ in their expression of molecules such as calcium-binding proteins and neuropeptides”

    From GABAergic Interneurons in the Neocortex: From Cellular Properties to Circuits (2016) · cites this paper as Ascoli et al., 2008

  • Bastos et al. did not give clear reasons why L1 inhibitory neurons should reverse the sign of g, despite suggesting involvement of inhibitory neurons in L1.

    “Although they suggested the involvement of inhibitory neurons in L1 earlier, among the diversity of distinct types of inhibitory neurons (Petilla Interneuron Nomenclature Group et al., 2008) many of them can “provide strong mono-synaptic inhibition to L2/3” (page 699) and there are no clear reasons given why the L1 inhibitory neurons should take the role of reversing the sign of g.”

    From Is predictive coding theory articulated enough to be testable? (2015) · cites this paper as Petilla Interneuron Nomenclature Group et al., 2008

  • Kv3 channels contribute to a large and fast afterhyperpolarization that facilitates recovery of Na+ channels from inactivation.

    “Kv3 channels also contribute to the generation of a large and fast AHP that facilitates the recovery of Na+ channels from inactivation9–11.”

    From GABAergic Interneurons in the Neocortex: From Cellular Properties to Circuits (2016) · cites this paper as [11]

    The Action-potential measurements section (page unavailable) defines afterhyperpolarizations as changes in membrane potential following a spike. It does not say that Kv3 channels generate a large, fast AHP or that an AHP facilitates Na+ channel recovery; searches for Kv3 and sodium-channel recovery found no passage addressing that mechanism. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • FS cells express high levels of voltage-gated K+ channels of the Kv3 subfamily with depolarized activation and fast deactivation, specialized for rapid repolarization with little interference during the inter-spike interval.

    “Expression of high levels of voltage-gated K+ channels with a depolarized activation voltage and fast deactivation rates of the Kv3 subfamily; channels specialized for rapid repolarization with little interference during the inter-spike interval.”

    From GABAergic Interneurons in the Neocortex: From Cellular Properties to Circuits (2016) · cites this paper as [11]

    The Firing pattern section describes fast-spiking cells as firing above 50 Hz with brief action potentials and fast afterhyperpolarizations (page unavailable). Searches for Kv3, depolarized activation, fast deactivation, and rapid repolarization found no passage in our copy connecting those channel properties to fast-spiking cells. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. [1]1. Somogyi P, Tamas G, Lujan R, Buhl EH. Salient features of synaptic organisation in the cerebral cortex. Brain Res. Brain Res. Rev 1998;26:113-135. [PubMed: 9651498]
  2. [4]4. Szentagóthai J. The neuron network of the cerebral cortex: a functional interpretation. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci 1978;201:219-248. [PubMed: 27801]
  3. [26]26. Cannon RC, Wheal HV, Turner DA. Dendrites of classes of hippocampal neurons differ in structural complexity and branching patterns. J. Comp. Neurol 1999;413:619-633. [PubMed: 10495447]
  4. [43]43. Somogyi, P.; Cowey, A. Cerebral Ccortex vol. 1 Cellular Components of the Cerebral Cortex.
  5. [53]53. DeFelipe, J., editor. J. Neurocytol. Vol. 31. 2002. p. 181-416.
  6. [72]72. Thomson AM, West DC, Deuchars J. Properties of single axon EPSPs elicited in spiny interneurones by action potentials in pyramidal neurones in slices of rat neocortex. Neuroscience 1995;69:727- 738. [PubMed: 8596643]
  7. [77]77. Thomson AM, Deuchars J, West DC. Single axon EPSPs in neocortical interneurones exhibit pronounced paired pulse facilitation. Neuroscience 1993;54:347-360. [PubMed: 8336829]
  8. [108]108. Toledo-Rodriguez, M. Thesis. Weizmann Inst. Sci.; Genetical, Anatomical and Electrical Determinants of Neuronal Diversity. 110.

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Authors
The Petilla Interneuron Nomenclature Group (PING)
Corresponding author
The Petilla Interneuron Nomenclature Group (PING)
Venue
Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Published
2008-07
Volume
9
Issue
7
Pages
557-568
ISSN
  • 1471-003X (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0048
OpenAlex
W2062450961
Cited by
1,491
References
113
Citations by year
2026: 32 · 2025: 57 · 2024: 69 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 61 · 2021: 96 · 2020: 101 · 2019: 98 · 2018: 82 · 2017: 102 · 2016: 96 · 2015: 96 · 2014: 105 · 2013: 117 · 2012: 88
FWCI
6.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature reviews. Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
  • University of Debrecen Electronic Archive (University of Debrecen) (submittedVersion)
  • DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) (submittedVersion)
  • University of Debrecen Electronic Archive (University of Debrecen) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Infoscience (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) (submittedVersion)
  • Infoscience (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Gobierno de Navarra
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS044820, R01NS011862, R56NS011862)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Anatomy › Medical and Biological Sciences
Keywords
GABAergic interneurons, cerebral cortex, neuron classification, terminology standardization, morphological features, molecular features, physiological traits
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Axons, Cerebral Cortex, gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Humans, Interneurons, Synapses

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