Adult mouse basal forebrain harbors two distinct cholinergic populations defined by their electrophysiology

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Unal Ç. T., Golowasch J. P., Zaborszky L.

FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE, cilt.6, 2012 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 6
  • Basım Tarihi: 2012
  • Doi Numarası: 10.3389/fnbeh.2012.00021
  • Dergi Adı: FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: spike frequency adaptation, tonic firing, phasic firing, calcium currents, neuromodulation, HIPPOCAMPAL PYRAMIDAL NEURONS, VOLTAGE-ACTIVATED CALCIUM, NUCLEUS BASALIS, A-TYPE, DISCHARGE PROPERTIES, GUINEA-PIG, NONCHOLINERGIC NEURONS, MEMBRANE-PROPERTIES, POTASSIUM CHANNELS, K+ CURRENT
  • Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

We performed whole-cell recordings from basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic neurons in transgenic mice expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) under the control of the choline acetyltransferase promoter. BF cholinergic neurons can be differentiated into two electrophysiologically identifiable subtypes: early and late firing neurons. Early firing neurons (similar to 70%) are more excitable, show prominent spike frequency adaptation and are more susceptible to depolarization blockade, a phenomenon characterized by complete silencing of the neuron following initial action potentials. Late firing neurons (similar to 30%), albeit being less excitable, could maintain a tonic discharge at low frequencies. In voltage clamp analysis, we have shown that early firing neurons have a higher density of low voltage activated (LVA) calcium currents. These two cholinergic cell populations might be involved in distinct functions: the early firing group being more suitable for phasic changes in cortical acetylcholine release associated with attention while the late firing neurons could support general arousal by maintaining tonic acetylcholine levels.