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Feedback inhibition in the cat's lateral geniculate nucleus
1Department of Neurobiology State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794-5230.
Experimental Brain Research
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Researchers found evidence of feedback inhibition in the cat
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Feedback inhibition is a common neural circuit feature.
- Specific examples in the brain are sparsely documented.
- A proposed circuit involves the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and perigeniculate nucleus (PGN) in cats.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate single-cell feedback inhibition within the cat's LGN.
- To determine if PGN neurons project back to the same LGN relay cells that innervate them.
Main Methods:
- Used an in vitro slice preparation of the cat's LGN.
- Evoked single action potentials in LGN relay cells via intracellular stimulation.
- Recorded for evoked hyperpolarizations indicative of inhibition.
Main Results:
- Observed long-lasting hyperpolarizations in 6 out of 36 LGN cells after action potential.
- Application of bicuculline significantly reduced these hyperpolarizations.
- Indicated synaptically activated inhibitory postsynaptic potentials.
Conclusions:
- Provided evidence for single-neuron feedback inhibition in the cat's LGN.
- Demonstrated that individual LGN neurons can self-inhibit through the PGN.
- Supports the role of feedback inhibition in LGN circuitry.