Cited by 220Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchHearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, GeneticsNeural dynamics and brain function

Perineuronal Nets Enhance the Excitability of Fast-Spiking Neurons

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Balmer, Timothy S.·2016·eneuro

Abstract

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are specialized complexes of extracellular matrix molecules that surround the somata of fast-spiking neurons throughout the vertebrate brain. PNNs are particularly prevalent throughout the auditory brainstem, which transmits signals with high speed and precision. It is unknown whether PNNs contribute to the fast-spiking ability of the neurons they surround. Whole-cell recordings were made from medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) principal neurons in acute brain slices from postnatal day 21 (P21) to P27 mice. PNNs were degraded by incubating slices in chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) and were compared to slices that were treated with a control enzyme (penicillinase). ChABC treatment did not affect the ability of MNTB neurons to fire at up to 1000 Hz when driven by current pulses. However, f – I (frequency–intensity) curves constructed by injecting Gaussian white noise currents superimposed on DC current steps showed that ChABC treatment reduced the gain of spike output. An increase in spike threshold may have contributed to this effect, which is consistent with the observation that spikes in ChABC-treated cells were delayed relative to control-treated cells. In addition, parvalbumin-expressing fast-spiking cortical neurons in >P70 slices that were treated with ChABC also had reduced excitability and gain. The development of PNNs around somata of fast-spiking neurons may be essential for fast and precise sensory transmission and synaptic inhibition in the brain.

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Crossref · 10.1523/eneuro.0112-16.2016

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  • Microglia-mediated loss of PNNs likely plays an important role in AD pathogenesis.

    “As PNNs are implicated in neuronal health and function, protecting cells against neurotoxins such as Aβ1–42 [39] and oxidative stress [65] in addition to modulating neuronal activity [63, 66], the microglia-mediated loss of these structures in disease likely plays an important role in AD pathogenesis.”
  • PNN degradation may also alter synaptic activity and hence network excitability.

    “However, it is important to recognize that in addition to changes in the excitability of inhibitory neurons as suggested here and by others55, PNN degradation may also alter synaptic activity56 and hence network excitability.”
  • The role of PNNs in neural and network excitability is only beginning to be understood.

    “However, the role of PNNs in neural and network excitability is only beginning to be understood (Balmer, 2016; Murase et al., 2017; Wen et al., 2017).”
  • Perineuronal net dysfunction in schizophrenia may drive changes in GABAergic cell function leading to network dysfunction, as normal PNN expression regulates excitability of PV cells.

    “Perineuronal net dysfunction in schizophrenia may also drive changes in GABAergic cell function leading to network dysfunction, as normal PNN expression regulates excitability of PV cells (Liu et al., 2013; Balmer, 2016).”
  • chABC-mediated removal of chondroitin sulfate side chains from PNNs reduced spiking of PV cells in adult rats and increased spiking variability.

    “While this mechanism has not been confirmed, chABC-mediated removal of chondroitin sulfate side chains from PNNs reduced spiking of PV cells in adult rats (Balmer, 2016; Lensjø et al., 2017) and increased spiking variability (Lensjø et al., 2017).”

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Authors
Balmer, T. S.
Affiliations
Marine Biological Laboratory (US)
Corresponding author
Balmer, Timothy S.
Venue
eneuro
Published
2016-07
Volume
3
Issue
4
Pages
ENEURO.0112-16.2016
ISSN
2373-2822 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2467652827
Cited by
220
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 18
FWCI
13.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • eNeuro (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Open Access Server of the Woods Hole Scientific Community (Woods Hole Scientific Community) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Grass Foundation
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
Keywords
perineuronal nets, fast-spiking neurons, neuronal excitability, medial nucleus of the trapezoid body, auditory brainstem, chondroitinase ABC, extracellular matrix, parvalbumin interneurons, spike threshold, synaptic inhibition, sensory transmission
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Analysis of Variance, Animals, Central Nervous System Agents, Extracellular Matrix, Female, Immunohistochemistry, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Neurons, Penicillinase, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Chondroitin ABC Lyase, Tissue Culture Techniques, Superior Olivary Complex

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