title: Classification of projection neurons and interneurons in the rat lateral amygdala based upon cluster analysis.
abstract: Neurons in the rat lateral amygdala in situ were classified based upon electrophysiological and molecular parameters, as studied by patch-clamp, single-cell RT-PCR and unsupervised cluster analyses. Projection neurons (class I) were characterized by low firing rates, frequency adaptation and expression of the vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT1). Two classes were distinguished based upon electrotonic properties and the presence (IB) or absence (IA) of vasointestinal peptide (VIP). Four classes of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67) containing interneurons were encountered. Class III reflected "classical" interneurons, generating fast spikes with no frequency adaptation. Class II neurons generated fast spikes with early frequency adaptation and differed from class III by the presence of VIP and the relatively rare presence of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and somatostatin (SOM). Class IV and V were not clearly separated by molecular markers, but by membrane potential values and spike patterns. Morphologically, projection neurons were large, spiny cells, whereas the other neuronal classes displayed smaller somata and spine-sparse dendrites.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physiologie I, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Robert-Koch-Str. 27a, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Ludmila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sosulina
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meis
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steinhäuser
authors.forename: Hans-Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Pape
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048430:Cell Shape; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007395:Interneurons / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050598:Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; C493466:Slc17a7 protein, rat; D050598:Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 1; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D013004:Somatostatin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; C402565:glutamate decarboxylase 1