title: De novo synaptogenesis induced by GABA in the developing mouse cortex.
abstract: Dendrites of cortical pyramidal neurons contain intermingled excitatory and inhibitory synapses. We studied the local mechanisms that regulate the formation and distribution of synapses. We found that local γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release on dendrites of mouse cortical layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons could induce gephyrin puncta and dendritic spine formation via GABA type A receptor activation and voltage-gated calcium channels during early postnatal development. Furthermore, the newly formed inhibitory and excitatory synaptic structures rapidly gained functions. Bidirectional manipulation of GABA release from somatostatin-positive interneurons increased and decreased the number of gephyrin puncta and dendritic spines, respectively. These results highlight a noncanonical function of GABA as a local synaptogenic element shaping the early establishment of neuronal circuitry in mouse cortex.
authors: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI), Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
authors: Won Chan
authors: WC
authors: Oh
authors: Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Lutzu
authors: Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
authors: Pablo E
authors: PE
authors: Castillo
authors: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI), Jupiter, FL 33458, USA. Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried 82152, Germany. hyungbae.kwon@mpfi.org.
authors: Hyung-Bae
authors: HB
authors: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007395:Interneurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D055495:Neurogenesis; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; C073441:gephyrin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid