Striatal acetylcholinesterase-containing interneurons innervate hippocampal tissue in co-cultured slices.
Co-cultures of hippocampal and striatal slices were prepared from 7-day-old rats. After a month in vitro they were examined by histochemical and electrophysiological techniques. Acetylcholinesterase-positive fibers, originating in presumed cholinergic local circuit neurons of the striatum, invaded the adjacent hippocampus, resulting in a functional innervation displaying the characteristics of muscarinic inputs. These observations demonstrate that interneurons, when offered an appropriate target, are capable of mimicking projection neurons. Such a target-induced change in growth characteristics can take place even during relatively advanced phases of their development.
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D007395:Interneurons / Q000502:physiology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D051381:Rats
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase