A mixed electrical and chemical synapse in the thalamic reticular nucleus

The thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) plays a major role in modulating the transfer of information from the thalamus to the cortex. GABAergic inhibition by the TRN is potentially synchronized by electrical synapses between TRN neurons, and TRN neurons are also sparsely connected to each other via chemical synapses. Paired recordings have shown that electrical coupling is abundant between TRN neurons, especially among those within close proximity, but combined electrical and chemical coupling has not yet been directly demonstrated in rats. Here, we report on a single pair of TRN neurons that were coupled both electrically and chemically. This is the only such example that we have found in hundreds of paired recordings of closely apposed neurons within the TRN.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Combined electrical and chemical coupling is demonstrated in a single couple of thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) neurons. Single action potentials in one neuron resulted in a spikelet [electrical postsynaptic potential (ePSP)] followed by a longer lasting hyperpolarization [from an inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)] in the target neuron. The IPSPs were most prominent at depolarized potentials and all but disappeared when approaching the chloride equilibrium potential. This is the only such example that we have found in hundreds of paired recordings within the TRN.