title: Pyramidal neurons in prefrontal cortex receive subtype-specific forms of excitation and inhibition.
abstract: Layer 5 pyramidal neurons comprise at least two subtypes: thick-tufted, subcortically projecting type A neurons, with prominent h-current, and thin-tufted, callosally projecting type B neurons, which lack prominent h-current. Using optogenetic stimulation, we find that these subtypes receive distinct forms of input that could subserve divergent functions. Repeatedly stimulating callosal inputs evokes progressively smaller excitatory responses in type B but not type A neurons. Callosal inputs also elicit more spikes in type A neurons. Surprisingly, these effects arise via distinct mechanisms. Differences in the dynamics of excitatory responses seem to reflect differences in presynaptic input, whereas differences in spiking depend on postsynaptic mechanisms. We also find that fast-spiking parvalbumin interneurons, but not somatostatin interneurons, preferentially inhibit type A neurons, leading to greater feedforward inhibition in this subtype. These differences may enable type A neurons to detect salient inputs that are focused in space and time, while type B neurons integrate across these dimensions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143-0444, USA; Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143-0444, USA; Sloan-Swartz Center for Theoretical Neurobiology, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143-0444, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143-0444, USA; Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143-0444, USA; Sloan-Swartz Center for Theoretical Neurobiology, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143-0444, USA.
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143-0444, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143-0444, USA; Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143-0444, USA; Sloan-Swartz Center for Theoretical Neurobiology, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143-0444, USA.
authors.forename: Tosha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143-0444, USA.
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rubenstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143-0444, USA; Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143-0444, USA; Sloan-Swartz Center for Theoretical Neurobiology, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143-0444, USA. Electronic address: vikaas.sohal@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Vikaas S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Sohal
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D000075402:Channelrhodopsins; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology*; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D000075402:Channelrhodopsins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D002118:Calcium