title: Molecular and functional properties of neurons in the human lateral amygdala.
abstract: Neuronal properties were investigated through patch-clamp recording in situ in surgical specimens of the human lateral amygdala (LA) obtained from patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy. Projection neurons displayed spiny dendrites, action potentials with varying degree of frequency adaptation, and an inwardly rectifying K+ (Kir) conductance coupled to GABA(B) receptors. In interneurons, dendrites were spineless or sparsely spiny, action potentials were shorter than those in projection neurons and often occurred spontaneously, and GABA(B) receptor-mediated responses were lacking. Single-cell RT-PCR demonstrated expression of Kir channel subunits Kir3.1 and Kir3.2 and of vesicular glutamate transporters VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 in projection neurons. It is concluded that projection neurons and interneurons of the human LA can be distinguished based upon morphological, electrophysiological, and molecular biological criteria. The most striking difference relates to the expression of postsynaptic GABA(B) receptors coupled to Kir3 channels in projection neurons and the lack of functional GABA(B) receptors in interneurons.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Neurobiology, Neurosurgery, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud Str. 25, D-53105 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hüttmann
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yilmazer-Hanke
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schramm
authors.forename: Hans-Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Pape
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steinhäuser
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000679:Amygdala / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe; D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000378:metabolism; D050598:Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050599:Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; C493476:SLC17A6 protein, human; C493464:SLC17A7 protein, human; D050598:Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 1; D050599:Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2