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Whole-cell Patch-clamp Recordings from Morphologically- and Neurochemically-identified Hippocampal Interneurons
Published on: September 30, 2014
Parvalbumin-positive basket interneurons in monkey and rat prefrontal cortex
N V Povysheva1, A V Zaitsev, D C Rotaru
1University of Pittsburgh School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, Langley A210, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. nvp1@pitt.edu
Journal of Neurophysiology
|July 18, 2008
Summary
Parvalbumin-positive basket interneurons in macaque monkeys are more excitable than those in rats, despite similar anatomy. These physiological differences in fast-spiking interneurons may explain distinct working-memory task performance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Comparative Anatomy
- Cell Physiology
Background:
- Species-specific differences exist in cortical neuron development and properties.
- Parvalbumin (PV)-positive neurons are crucial interneurons in the cortex.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare anatomical and physiological properties of PV-positive basket interneurons in macaque monkeys and rats.
- To understand how these differences might influence cognitive functions like working memory.
Main Methods:
- Electrophysiological recordings from PV-positive basket interneurons in the prefrontal cortex of both species.
- Analysis of neuronal structure (somal size, dendritic length, axonal span).
- Assessment of intrinsic physiological properties (input resistance, firing threshold, spike frequency, miniature excitatory postsynaptic potentials).
Main Results:
- Anatomical properties (somal size, dendritic length, axonal span) were similar between species.
- Both species exhibited fast-spiking interneuron characteristics.
- Monkey basket cells showed higher excitability (higher input resistance, lower firing threshold, more spikes) compared to rat basket cells.
- Rat basket cells displayed delayed firing and more frequent quiescent periods.
- Miniature excitatory postsynaptic potential frequency was higher in rats than in monkeys.
Conclusions:
- PV-positive basket interneurons exhibit significant interspecies differences in intrinsic physiological properties between macaques and rats.
- These electrophysiological distinctions may underlie observed differences in working-memory task performance.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the functional implications of these neuronal differences.
