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Ex utero Electroporation and Whole Hemisphere Explants: A Simple Experimental Method for Studies of Early Cortical Development
Published on: April 3, 2013
Subplate cells: amplifiers of neuronal activity in the developing cerebral cortex
Heiko J Luhmann1, Werner Kilb, Ileana L Hanganu-Opatz
1Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Mainz, Germany.
Frontiers in Neuroanatomy
|October 29, 2009
Summary
Subplate neurons amplify early brain activity through synchronized network oscillations. These cells act as crucial amplifiers, not just relays, in the developing neocortical circuit, utilizing gap junctions for network synchronization.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Computational Neuroscience
Background:
- Subplate cells possess unique structural and functional characteristics ideal for amplifying developing neocortical circuits.
- Subplate neurons exhibit extensive dendritic and axonal branching and mature functional properties, including action potential firing exceeding 40 Hz.
- Early corticogenesis involves subplate cells receiving synaptic inputs from thalamic, cortical, and non-cortical sources, including glutamatergic, depolarizing GABAergic, and neuromodulatory inputs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of subplate cells in amplifying afferent and intracortical activity during early neocortical development.
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which subplate cells contribute to network oscillations and synchronization.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of synaptic inputs to subplate neurons, including glutamatergic, GABAergic, and neuromodulatory pathways.
- Investigation of subplate neuron responses to metabotropic receptor activation, specifically muscarinic receptors.
- Examination of electrical and chemical synaptic transmission between subplate cells and to cortical plate neurons.
- Assessment of the role of GABAergic subplate cells and gap junction coupling in network synchronization and oscillation generation.
Main Results:
- Activation of muscarinic receptors in subplate neurons triggers oscillatory burst discharges.
- Tonic non-synaptic GABA release from GABAergic subplate cells promotes burst discharge generation.
- Gap junction coupling amplifies these bursts, leading to 10-20 Hz oscillations in local columnar networks.
- Neuronal networks are organized into gap junction-coupled columnar syncytia during early development.
Conclusions:
- Subplate cells function as active amplifying elements in the developing neocortex, rather than solely as transient relay stations.
- The subplate network facilitates the amplification of afferent and intracortical activity through synchronized oscillatory burst discharges.
- Early neuronal organization involves a columnar syncytium mediated by gap junctions, contributing to network development.
