Cited by 115Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNeural dynamics and brain functionMemory and Neural Mechanisms

State-dependent function of neocortical chandelier cells

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Woodruff, Alan R., McGarry, Laura M., Vogels, Tim P., Inan, Melis, Anderson, Stewart A., Yuste, Rafael·2011·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

Chandelier (axoaxonic) cells (ChCs) are a distinct group of GABAergic interneurons that innervate the axon initial segments of pyramidal cells. However, their circuit role and the function of their clearly defined anatomical specificity remain unclear. Recent work has demonstrated that chandelier cells can produce depolarizing GABAergic PSPs, occasionally driving postsynaptic targets to spike. On the other hand, other work suggests that ChCs are hyperpolarizing and may have an inhibitory role. These disparate functional effects may reflect heterogeneity among ChCs. Here, using brain slices from transgenic mouse strains, we first demonstrate that, across different neocortical areas and genetic backgrounds, upper Layer 2/3 ChCs belong to a single electrophysiologically and morphologically defined population, extensively sampling Layer 1 inputs with asymmetric dendrites. Consistent with being a single cell type, we find electrical coupling between ChCs. We then investigate the effect of chandelier cell activation on pyramidal neuron spiking in several conditions, ranging from the resting membrane potential to stimuli designed to approximate in vivo membrane potential dynamics. We find that under quiescent conditions, chandelier cells are capable of both promoting and inhibiting spike generation, depending on the postsynaptic membrane potential. However, during in vivo-like membrane potential fluctuations, the dominant postsynaptic effect was a strong inhibition. Thus, neocortical chandelier cells, even from within a homogeneous population, appear to play a dual role in the circuit, helping to activate quiescent pyramidal neurons, while at the same time inhibiting active ones.

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Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.3894-11.2011

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  • The excitatory versus shunting effect of depolarizing GABA at the axon initial segment may depend on the excitatory state of the postsynaptic cell.

    “it has been recently suggested that this depends on the excitatory state of the postsynaptic cell”

    From GABAergic Interneurons in the Neocortex: From Cellular Properties to Circuits (2016) · cites this paper as Woodruff et al., 2011

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  1. Lorente de Nó R Fulton JF Cerebral cortex: architecture, intracortical connections, motor projections Physiology of the nervous system 1949 228 330 Oxford UP New York

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Authors
Woodruff, A. R., McGarry, L. M., Vogels, T. P., Inan, M., Anderson, S. A., & Yuste, R.
Affiliations
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
  • Cornell University (US)
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2011-12-07
Volume
31
Issue
49
Pages
17872-17886
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W2056385333
Cited by
115
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 8
FWCI
3.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • National Eye Institute (R01EY011787)
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
chandelier cells, GABAergic interneurons, neocortex, pyramidal neurons, axon initial segment, membrane potential dynamics, electrical coupling, layer 2/3, transgenic mouse strains, membrane potential fluctuations
MeSH terms
Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Biophysics, Electric Stimulation, Female, gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Interneurons, Lysine, Male, Mice, Transgenic, Neural Inhibition, Noise, Nuclear Proteins, Transcription Factors, Gap Junctions, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Neocortex, Principal Component Analysis, Mice, In Vitro Techniques

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