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State-dependent function of neocortical chandelier cells.

Alan R Woodruff¹, Laura M McGarry, Tim P Vogels

¹Department Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA. woodruff@hifo.uzh.ch

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

|December 14, 2011

Summary

Chandelier cells (ChCs) in the neocortex can excite or inhibit pyramidal neurons. Their function depends on the neuron's activity state, acting as a dual-role circuit modulator.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cellular Electrophysiology
Circuitry

Background:

Chandelier (axoaxonic) cells (ChCs) are GABAergic interneurons targeting pyramidal cell axon initial segments.
Their precise circuit role and functional specificity remain incompletely understood, with conflicting reports on their impact (depolarizing vs. hyperpolarizing).
Potential heterogeneity among ChCs has been proposed as a source of these functional discrepancies.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the electrophysiological and morphological homogeneity of upper Layer 2/3 chandelier cells in the neocortex.
To determine the functional impact of chandelier cell activation on pyramidal neuron spiking under varying conditions.

Main Methods:

Utilized transgenic mouse lines and brain slice electrophysiology.
Characterized chandelier cells across different neocortical areas and genetic backgrounds.
Assessed pyramidal neuron spiking responses to ChC activation under quiescent and in vivo-like dynamic conditions.

Main Results:

Demonstrated that upper Layer 2/3 chandelier cells constitute a single, electrophysiologically and morphologically defined population.
Identified electrical coupling between chandelier cells, supporting their classification as a homogeneous cell type.
Revealed that ChC activation can promote spiking in quiescent pyramidal neurons but strongly inhibits active neurons during in vivo-like activity.

Conclusions:

Neocortical chandelier cells, despite belonging to a homogeneous population, exhibit a dual role in neural circuits.
They can facilitate the activation of quiescent pyramidal neurons while simultaneously inhibiting active ones.
This dynamic function suggests a sophisticated regulatory role for chandelier cells in cortical processing.