Ordered Structure of Inhibitory Circuits in Neocortical Layer 5

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25890023
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Neurophysiology / General neuroscience
• Research Institution: The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: SAKAI Seiichiro 独立行政法人理化学研究所, 脳科学総合研究センター, 研究員 (40709747)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-08-30 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 大脳新皮質 / 抑制性ニューロン / 局所神経回路 / 電気生理学 / 組織学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Subcerebral projection neurons (SCPNs) are a major subtype of principal cells in neocortical layer 5, which project axons to subcortical targets. We previously reported that SCPNs form periodic columnar clusters termed microcolumns. The microcolumns would behave as functional units in layer 5. It has not been known whether inhibitory neurons (INs) in layer 5 have orderly cell configuration related to the microcolumns. We conducted three-dimensional analysis of the cell configuration and analyzed synaptic connections between SCPNs and INs. INs are very sparse and do not show specific configuration patterns or specific connection patterns. On the other hand, cell type specificity and periodic arrangement of the microcolumns were revealed by these experiments.

Free Research Field

神経科学