Cell-type specific properties of pyramidal neurons in neocortex underlying a layout that is modifiable depending on the cortical area.
To understand sensory representation in cortex, it is crucial to identify its constituent cellular components based on cell-type-specific criteria. With the identification of cell types, an important question can be addressed: to what degree does the cellular properties of neurons depend on cortical location? We tested this question using pyramidal neurons in layer 5 (L5) because of their role in providing major cortical output to subcortical targets. Recently developed transgenic mice with cell-type-specific enhanced green fluorescent protein labeling of neuronal subtypes allow reliable identification of 2 cortical cell types in L5 throughout the entire neocortex. A comprehensive investigation of anatomical and functional properties of these 2 cell types in visual and somatosensory cortex demonstrates that, with important exceptions, most properties appear to be cell-type-specific rather than dependent on cortical area. This result suggests that although cortical output neurons share a basic layout throughout the sensory cortex, fine differences in properties are tuned to the cortical area in which neurons reside.
Groh
Alexander
A
Institute for Neuroscience of Technical University Munich, Biedersteiner Strasse 29, 80802 Munich, Germany.
Meyer
Hanno S
HS
Schmidt
Eric F
EF
Heintz
Nathaniel
N
Sakmann
Bert
B
Krieger
Patrik
P
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000378:metabolism; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000235:genetics; D005700:Galactosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D019579:Neocortex / Q000166:cytology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology
D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D002772:Cholera Toxin; C535154:COLGALT2 protein, human; D005700:Galactosyltransferases; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; C402565:glutamate decarboxylase 1; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase