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In Vivo Visualization of Spontaneous Activity in Neonatal Mouse Sensory Cortex at a Single-Neuron Resolution

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Published on: November 21, 2023

Functional excitatory microcircuits in neonatal cortex connect thalamus and layer 4.

Cuiping Zhao¹, Joseph P Y Kao, Patrick O Kanold

¹Department of Biology, Institute for Systems Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience

|December 17, 2009

Summary

Subplate neurons (SPNs) are critical for developing brain circuits. This study shows SPNs relay early sensory activity to the cortex, influencing its maturation and organization.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Developmental Biology
Cortical Development

Background:

The developing cerebral cortex relies on transient neuronal circuits, including subplate neurons (SPNs), which are absent in adults.
SPNs are known to be crucial for cortical development and thalamocortical synapse formation, but their integration into developing circuits is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the functional integration of SPNs within the developing thalamocortical circuit in mice.
To characterize the intrinsic properties and synaptic connections of SPNs during early postnatal development.

Main Methods:

In vitro electrophysiology on thalamocortical slices from mouse brains (postnatal days 1-13).
Recording of spontaneous and evoked activity, intrinsic membrane properties, and synaptic inputs (EPSCs) onto SPNs and layer 4 neurons.
Photostimulation techniques were used to selectively activate SPNs.

Main Results:

SPNs exhibit mature intrinsic membrane properties by postnatal day 5 and can fire action potentials from postnatal day 1.
SPNs receive functional excitatory inputs from the medial geniculate nucleus (MGN) starting at postnatal day 2, with strengthening projections up to postnatal day 13.
Activation of SPNs leads to excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in layer 4 neurons, confirming a functional excitatory connection.

Conclusions:

SPNs are tightly integrated into the developing thalamocortical circuit and act as a relay for early sensory activity.
The excitatory projections from SPNs to layer 4 neurons likely regulate activity-dependent processes essential for cortical maturation, plasticity, and organization.