Neuronal cell-subtype specificity of neural synchronization in mouse primary visual cortex

Nat Commun. 2019 Jun 10;10(1):2533. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-10498-1.

Abstract

Spatiotemporally synchronised neuronal activity is central to sensation, motion and cognition. Brain circuits consist of dynamically interconnected neuronal cell-types, thus elucidating how neuron types synergise within the network is key to understand the neuronal orchestra. Here we show that in neocortex neuron-network coupling is neuronal cell-subtype specific. Employing in vivo two-photon (2-p) Calcium (Ca) imaging and 2-p targeted whole-cell recordings, we cell-type specifically investigated the coupling profiles of genetically defined neuron populations in superficial layers (L) of mouse primary visual cortex (V1). Our data reveal novel subtlety of neuron-network coupling in inhibitory interneurons (INs). Parvalbumin (PV)- and Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-expressing INs exhibit skewed distributions towards strong network-coupling; in Somatostatin (SST)-expressing INs, however, two physiological subpopulations are identified with distinct neuron-network coupling profiles, providing direct evidence for subtype specificity. Our results thus add novel functional granularity to neuronal cell-typing, and provided insights critical to simplifying/understanding neural dynamics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Electrophysiology
  • Evoked Potentials, Visual
  • Female
  • Interneurons / physiology*
  • Male
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Parvalbumins / metabolism
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Somatostatin / metabolism
  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / metabolism
  • Visual Cortex / cytology*
  • Visual Cortex / physiology*

Substances

  • Parvalbumins
  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
  • Somatostatin
  • Calcium