title: Dendrodendritic synapses in the cat reticularis thalami nucleus: a structural basis for thalamic spindle synchronization.
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deschênes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Madariaga-Domich
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steriade
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D002118:Calcium