title: Synaptic influence of hippocampus on pyramidal cells of the rat prefrontal cortex: an in vivo intracellular recording study.
abstract: The hippocampus and prefrontal cortex are two structures implicated in learning and memory and are related through a direct excitatory pathway. The characteristics of the synaptic influence of the hippocampus on pyramidal cells of the prefrontal cortex were determined using intracellular recordings in anesthetized rats. Single-pulse stimulation of the hippocampus induced an early EPSP of fixed latency in most of the recorded pyramidal cells (n = 106/116) thereby demonstrating a monosynaptic connection between hippocampal neurons and pyramidal cells of the prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, the EPSP was followed by a prolonged IPSP and suggests a simultaneous engagement of pyramidal and non-pyramidal neurons that may ultimately constrain the spread of excitation in response to hippocampal input. Paired-pulse stimulation induced short-term modifications in the synaptic responses and this short-term plasticity may contribute to the temporal filtering of information. Finally, tetanic stimulation of the hippocampus produced long-term potentiation of the monosynaptic EPSP with a concomitant potentiation of the IPSP, indicating that the hippocampo-prefrontal network can participate in the formation and consolidation of memories. In conclusion, the characteristics of the synaptic transmission in the hippocampo-prefrontal cortex pathway further supports the existence of a cooperative relationship between two structures known to be involved in higher cognitive processes.
authors.affiliation: Chaire de Neuropharmacologie, INSERM U114, Collège de France, 11 place Marcelin Berthelot, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dégenètais
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Thierry
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Glowinski
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gioanni
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*