title: Characterization of intracortical synaptic connections in the mouse anterior cingulate cortex using dual patch clamp recording.
abstract: The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is involved in sensory, cognitive, and executive functions. Studies of synaptic transmission and plasticity in the ACC provide an understanding of basic cellular and molecular mechanisms for brain functions. Previous anatomic studies suggest complex local interactions among neurons within the ACC. However, there is a lack of functional studies of such synaptic connections between ACC neurons. In the present study, we characterized the neuronal connections in the superficial layers (I-III) of the mouse ACC using dual whole-cell patch clamp recording technique. Four types of synaptic connections were observed, which are from a pyramidal neuron to a pyramidal neuron, from a pyramidal neuron to an interneuron, from an interneuron to a pyramidal neuron and from an interneuron to an interneuron. These connections exist among neurons in layer II/III or between neurons located layer I and II/III, respectively. Moreover, reciprocal connections exist in all four types of paired neurons. Our results provide the first key evidence of functional excitatory and inhibitory connections in the ACC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto Center for the Study of Pain, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada. longjun.wu@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Long-Jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiangyao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhuo
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D053444:Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials; D007395:Interneurons / Q000502:physiology; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*