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Neuron-specific cholinergic modulation of a forebrain song control nucleus
Stephen D Shea1, Henner Koch, Daniel Baleckaitis
1Committee on Neurobiology and 2Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. sshea@cshl.edu
Journal of Neurophysiology
|November 27, 2009
Summary
Cholinergic activation in the zebra finch song control nucleus (HVC) excites projection neurons but inhibits interneurons, reconfiguring the network. This suggests cholinergic tone modulates song motor commands and basal ganglia interactions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurobiology
- Systems Neuroscience
Background:
- Cholinergic system profoundly impacts vertebrate forebrain networks.
- Specificity of cholinergic modulation in pathways and cell types within the song control nucleus (HVC) is poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate cell-specific cholinergic modulation of HVC neurons in zebra finches.
- Elucidate the effects of cholinergic activation on distinct neuronal populations within the HVC.
Main Methods:
- Utilized in vitro whole-cell recordings in the zebra finch song control nucleus (HVC).
- Examined muscarinic receptor effects on HVC projection neurons (HVC-RAn, HVC-Xn) and GABAergic interneurons.
- Blocked fast synaptic transmission and used atropine to confirm muscarinic receptor involvement.
Main Results:
- Muscarine excited phasic HVC-RAn and most HVC-Xn neurons.
- In contrast to mammals, muscarine inhibited HVC interneurons.
- Cholinergic modulation decoupled the two projection pathways by suppressing inhibitory interneurons while exciting projection neurons.
Conclusions:
- Cholinergic modulation reconfigures the HVC network in a complex manner, not simply gating.
- Suppression of inhibitory interneurons decouples HVC projection pathways.
- Fluctuating cholinergic tone may modulate song motor commands and basal ganglia interactions for song perception and modification.
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