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Induction of an Isoelectric Brain State to Investigate the Impact of Endogenous Synaptic Activity on Neuronal Excitability In Vivo
Published on: March 31, 2016
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VIP+ interneurons control neocortical activity across brain states
Jesse Jackson1, Inbal Ayzenshtat2, Mahesh M Karnani2
1Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York jacksonj10@janelia.hhmi.org.
Journal of Neurophysiology
|March 11, 2016
Summary
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP+) interneurons facilitate neocortical activity. Blocking VIP+ cell output reduces neural activity across various brain states, demonstrating their causal role in generating high-activity regimes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
Background:
- GABAergic interneurons critically regulate neural dynamics.
- The precise circuit mechanisms controlling neocortical activity by interneurons are not fully understood.
- Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP+) interneurons specifically target other interneurons, suggesting a role in modulating cortical excitability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between local network activity and VIP+ cells in the mouse visual cortex.
- To determine the role of VIP+ interneurons in modulating spontaneous and evoked neocortical activity.
Main Methods:
- In vivo calcium imaging (Ca2+) in mouse visual cortex.
- Pharmacogenetic manipulation to block VIP+ cell output.
- Analysis of neural activity across different brain states (locomotion, non-locomotion, visual stimulation, anesthesia).
Main Results:
- VIP+ cells were active across all tested brain states.
- VIP+ cell activity strongly correlated with the mean activity level of nearby excitatory neurons.
- Pharmacogenetic blockade of VIP+ cell output led to a reduction in overall network activity, irrespective of the brain state.
- VIP+ neurons causally facilitate high-activity states in the neocortex.
Conclusions:
- VIP+ interneurons play a crucial, state-independent role in facilitating neocortical neural activity.
- These findings elucidate the contribution of VIP+ interneurons to generating high-activity regimes during both spontaneous and evoked cortical activity.
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