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GABAergic Signaling Increases Through the Postnatal Development to Provide the Potent Inhibitory Capability for the Maturing Demands of the Prefrontal Cortex

Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology volume 30, pages 543–555 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

The developmental profile of the firing patterns and construction of synapse connection were studied in LTS interneurons of prefrontal cortex (PFC) in rats with age (from P7 to P30). We used whole cell patch-clamp recordings to characterize electrophysiological properties of LTS interneurons in PFC at different age stages, including the action potentials (APs), short-term plasticity (STP), evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs), spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSC), and spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic current (sIPSC). The developmental profile of LTS interneurons in our research showed two phases changes. The early phase from P7–P11 to P16–P19 during which the development of individual LTS interneuron dominated and just some simple synaptic connections formed, the synaptic inputs from pyramidal cells play a promoting role for the maturation of LTS interneurons to some extent. This was based on the changes of APs, eEPSCs, and STP such as the curtailment of time course of APs, the increasing facilitation of STP before P16–P19 group. The late phase from P20–P23 to P > 27 during which the function of inhibitory cortex network enhanced and the characters of this inhibitory cortex network continually changed although in the oldest age group (P > 27) in our research. The frequency and amplitude of sIPSC showed continually changes, and at the same age group, the frequency ratios and amplitude ratios of sIPSC was higher than that of sEPSC. Our study showed a foundation to clarify mechanisms underlying the evolution in time of intrinsic neuronal membrane properties and their important roles in balancing the cortex network, providing an academic foundation for the pathological researching on some psychiatric and neurological disorders.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Grants from Guangdong Science-Tech Program (No. 2001331004202516, No. 2008B090500028, No. 2007B031400001), and the Science Foundation of Life Sciences School, Sun Yat-sen University.

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  1. Department of Biological Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, 135 Xingang Xi Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510275, People’s Republic of China

    Jihong Cui, Fang Wang, Ke Wang & Hui Xiang

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  1. Jihong Cui
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  2. Fang Wang
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  3. Ke Wang
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  4. Hui Xiang
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Correspondence to Hui Xiang.

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Cui, J., Wang, F., Wang, K. et al. GABAergic Signaling Increases Through the Postnatal Development to Provide the Potent Inhibitory Capability for the Maturing Demands of the Prefrontal Cortex. Cell Mol Neurobiol 30, 543–555 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-009-9478-z

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Keywords

  • Prefrontal cortex
  • Low-threshold spiking interneurons
  • Action potential
  • Evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents
  • Short-term facilitation
  • Spontaneous postsynaptic currents