To identify neocortical neurons expressing the type 3 serotonergic receptor, here we used transgenic mice expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the 5-HT(3A) promoter (5-HT(3A):GFP mice). By means of whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, biocytin labeling, and single-cell reversed-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction on acute brain slices of 5-HT(3A):GFP mice, we identified 2 populations of 5-HT(3A)-expressing interneurons within the somatosensory cortex. The first population was characterized by the frequent expression of the vasoactive intestinal peptide and a typical bipolar/bitufted morphology, whereas the second population expressed predominantly the neuropeptide Y and exhibited more complex dendritic arborizations. Most interneurons of this second group appeared very similar to neurogliaform cells according to their electrophysiological, molecular, and morphological properties. The combination of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine injections with 5-HT(3A) mRNA detection showed that cortical 5-HT(3A) interneurons are generated around embryonic day 14.5. Although at this stage the 5-HT(3A) receptor subunit is expressed in both the caudal ganglionic eminence and the entopeduncular area, homochronic in utero grafts experiments revealed that cortical 5-HT(3A) interneurons are mainly generated in the caudal ganglionic eminence. This protracted expression of the 5-HT(3A) subunit allowed us to study specific cortical interneuron populations from their birth to their final functional phenotype.
Pubmed ID: 20083553 RIS Download
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View all literature mentionsSoftware suite for electrophysiology data acquisition and analysis by Molecular Devices. Used for the control and recording of voltage clamp, current clamp, and patch clamp experiments. The software suite consists of Clampex 11 Software for data acquisition, AxoScope 11 Software for background recording, Clampfit 11 Software for data analysis, and optional Clampfit Advanced Analysis Module for sophisticated and streamlined analysis.
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