Dendrodendritic synapses in the cat reticularis thalami nucleus: a structural basis for thalamic spindle synchronization.
Dendrodendritic synapses have been found between the dendrites of reticularis thalami neurons. These synapses were symmetric and the presynaptic element contained pleomorphic vesicles. A few cases of reciprocal dendrodendritic synapses were also observed. Given the morphological features of the synapses and the well-established GABAergic nature of reticularis neurons it is concluded that reticularis cell dendrites form a local inhibitory network. The functional implications of this type of organization for the synchronization of spindle oscillations are discussed and a new hypothesis is proposed.
Deschênes
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M
Madariaga-Domich
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A
Steriade
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D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002415:Cats; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D003712:Dendrites / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004594:Electrophysiology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009433:Neural Inhibition; D013569:Synapses / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology
D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D002118:Calcium