Bipolar / Bitufted Interneuron

A neurons cell type of the human nervous system.

Often a VIP-expressing cortical interneuron type that can disinhibit pyramidal cells by inhibiting other interneurons.

Function

VIP/5-HT3aR interneuron subsets disinhibit pyramidal neurons by inhibiting other inhibitory interneurons (especially SST cells); the disinhibitory module is recruited by reinforcement (reward/punishment) signals and increases principal-neuron gain.

Morphology

Bipolar or bitufted (two dendritic tufts from opposite poles of an ovoid soma)

Specification

  • Neurotransmitter: GABA
  • Co-transmitters: VIP (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide); CCK or CRH in subsets
  • Receptors: Nicotinic ACh receptors; 5-HT3A (ionotropic serotonin receptor)
  • Location: Cerebral cortex, predominantly superficial layers (II/III)
  • Projections: Other inhibitory interneurons, especially somatostatin (e.g. Martinotti) cells, and a fraction of PV cells
  • Firing: Irregular spiking
  • Markers: VIP; HTR3A (5-HT3aR); GAD1/GAD2; SLC32A1/VGAT; CCK or CRH in subsets
  • Developmental origin: Caudal ganglionic eminence (CGE)
  • Disease: Schizophrenia; cognitive dysfunction (via altered cortical disinhibition / E-I balance) [association]
  • Cell Ontology: CL:0000103

References

  1. Pi HJ, Hangya B, Kvitsiani D, Sanders JI, Huang ZJ, & Kepecs A (2013). Cortical interneurons that specialize in disinhibitory control.. Nature 503 PMID 24097352
  2. Lee S, Hjerling-Leffler J, Zagha E, Fishell G, & Rudy B (2010). The largest group of superficial neocortical GABAergic interneurons expresses ionotropic serotonin receptors.. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 30 PMID 21159951
  3. Tremblay R, Lee S, & Rudy B (2016). GABAergic Interneurons in the Neocortex: From Cellular Properties to Circuits.. Neuron 91: 260–292 PMID 27477017

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