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Identification of a Group of GABAergic Neurons in the Dorsomedial Area of the Locus Coeruleus
- Source :
- PLoS ONE, PLoS ONE, Vol 11, Iss 1, p e0146470 (2016)
- Publication Year :
- 2016
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2016.
-
Abstract
- The locus coeruleus (LC)-norepinephrine (NE) system in the brainstem plays a critical role in a variety of behaviors is an important target of pharmacological intervention to several neurological disorders. Although GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter of LC neurons, the modulation of LC neuronal firing activity by local GABAergic interneurons remains poorly understood with respect to their precise location, intrinsic membrane properties and synaptic modulation. Here, we took an optogenetic approach to address these questions. Channelrhodopsin (ChR2) in a tandem with the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) was expressed in GABAergic neurons under the control of glutamic acid decarboxylase 2 (GAD2) promoter. Immediately dorsomedial to the LC nucleus, a group of GABAergic neurons was observed. They had small soma and were densely packed in a small area, which we named the dorsomedial LC or dmLC nucleus. These GABAergic neurons showed fast firing activity, strong inward rectification and spike frequency adaptation. Lateral inhibition among these GABAergic neurons was observed. Optostimulation of the dmLC area drastically inhibited LC neuronal firing frequency, expanded the spike intervals, and reset their pacemaking activity. Analysis of the light evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) indicated that they were monosynaptic. Such light evoked IPSCs were not seen in slices where this group of GABAergic neurons was absent. Thus, an isolated group of GABAergic neurons is demonstrated in the LC area, whose location, somatic morphology and intrinsic membrane properties are clearly distinguishable from adjacent LC neurons. They interact with each and may inhibit LC neurons as well as a part of local neuronal circuitry in the LC.
- Subjects :
- Male
0301 basic medicine
Patch-Clamp Techniques
Light
Physiology
lcsh:Medicine
Action Potentials
Channelrhodopsin
Cell Separation
Biochemistry
Synaptic Transmission
Inhibitions
Mice
0302 clinical medicine
Animal Cells
Medicine and Health Sciences
GABAergic Neurons
lcsh:Science
Neurons
Light Pulses
Brain Mapping
Multidisciplinary
Neuronal Morphology
Physics
Electromagnetic Radiation
Anatomy
Electrophysiology
Bioassays and Physiological Analysis
medicine.anatomical_structure
Cell Tracking
Physical Sciences
GABAergic
Locus Coeruleus
Cellular Types
Research Article
Yellow Fluorescent Protein
Neurophysiology
Mice, Transgenic
Neurotransmission
Optogenetics
Biology
Research and Analysis Methods
Inhibitory postsynaptic potential
Membrane Potential
03 medical and health sciences
Interneurons
medicine
Animals
Behavior
lcsh:R
Biology and Life Sciences
Proteins
Cell Biology
Neurophysiological Analysis
Electrophysiological Phenomena
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Luminescent Proteins
030104 developmental biology
nervous system
Cellular Neuroscience
Locus coeruleus
lcsh:Q
Nucleus
Neuroscience
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 11
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLOS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....dfee5af3de7d4f1dd32b6de460265e6b