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Updated: May 31, 2026
09:55
Large-scale Three-dimensional Imaging of Cellular Organization in the Mouse Neocortex
Published on: September 5, 2018
Highly differentiated projection-specific cortical subnetworks
Mieko Morishima1, Kenji Morita, Yoshiyuki Kubota
1Division of Cerebral Circuitry, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Okazaki, 444-8787, Japan.
Summary
Pyramidal neurons in rat frontal cortex exhibit distinct intracortical connectivity based on their projection targets. This segregation influences information flow within specific cortical output channels.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cortical Circuitry
- Cellular Electrophysiology
Background:
- Pyramidal neurons in the neocortex are diverse, with subgroups defined by projection targets.
- Intracortical connectivity of these specialized neurons remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the intracortical synaptic transmission properties and connection patterns of distinct layer 5 pyramidal neuron subtypes in the rat frontal cortex.
- To correlate these properties with subcortical projection targets and thalamic input.
Main Methods:
- Paired recordings and quantitative morphological analysis were employed.
- Retrograde tracers identified crossed-corticostriatal (CCS) and corticopontine (CPn) projection subtypes in layer 5.
- Synaptic properties and connection probabilities were compared between CPn/CPn and CCS/CCS pairs.
Main Results:
- CPn/CPn pairs showed greater reciprocal connectivity, stronger unitary synaptic transmission, and more paired-pulse facilitation than CCS/CCS pairs.
- These synaptic differences correlated with the presynaptic neuron's projection subtype.
- Pyramidal cells were further differentiated by somatic position (L5a/L5b) and arborizations, linked to thalamic input density.
Conclusions:
- Pyramidal projection systems are segregated into distinct output channels based on subcortical targets and thalamic input.
- Information flow within and between these channels is selectively organized by neuronal subtype.
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