One way to assess a neuron's function is to describe all its inputs and outputs. With this goal in mind, we used serial section electron microscopy to map 899 synaptic inputs and 623 outputs in one inhibitory interneuron in a large volume of the mouse visual thalamus. This neuron innervated 256 thalamocortical cells spread across functionally distinct subregions of the visual thalamus. All but one of its neurites were bifunctional, innervating thalamocortical and local interneurons while also receiving synapses from the retina. We observed a wide variety of local synaptic motifs. While this neuron innervated many cells weakly, with single en passant synapses, it also deployed specialized branches that climbed along other dendrites to form strong multi-synaptic connections with a subset of partners. This neuron's diverse range of synaptic relationships allows it to participate in a mix of global and local processing but defies assigning it a single circuit function.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2020.02.001 | DOI Listing |
Commun Biol
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Sanya, China.
The retrosplenial cortex (RSP) is a complex brain region with multiple interconnected subregions that plays crucial roles in various cognitive functions, including memory, spatial navigation, and emotion. Understanding the afferent and efferent connectivity of the RSP is essential for comprehending the underlying mechanisms of its functions. Here, via viral tracing and fluorescence micro-optical sectioning tomography (fMOST), we systematically investigated the anatomical organisation of the upstream and downstream circuits of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in the dorsal and ventral RSP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Mu-opioid receptors (MORs) are G-coupled protein receptors with a high affinity for both endogenous and exogenous opioids. MORs are widely expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), peripheral organs, and the immune system. They mediate pain and reward and have been implicated in the pathophysiology of opioid, cocaine, and other substance use disorders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeadache
January 2025
School of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China.
Objective: To evaluate whether patients with tension-type headache (TTH) exhibit abnormal brain functional connectivity compared to healthy controls.
Background: TTH is one of the most prevalent headache disorders throughout the world. The present study delves into brain functional connectivity in patients with TTH to enhance the understanding of its underlying pathophysiology.
Int J Pharm
January 2025
School of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541199, China. Electronic address:
Alprazolam (Alp), a triazolobenzodiazepine, is widely prescribed for the treatment of sleep disorders, anxiety, and panic disorder. While oral administration remains the standard route, its slow onset of action has prompted interest in intranasal delivery as an alternative, offers the potential for direct drug delivery to the brain. This study aims to develop a fast-acting intranasal formulation of Alp (Alp-nd).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
January 2025
Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) typically respond to light stimulation over their spatially restricted receptive field. Using large-scale recordings in the mouse retina, we show that a subset of non- direction-selective (DS) RGCs exhibit asymmetric activity, selective to motion direction, in response to a stimulus crossing an area far beyond the classic receptive field. The extraclassical response arises via inputs from an asymmetric distal zone and is enhanced by desensitization mechanisms and an inherent DS component, creating a network of neurons responding to motion toward the optic disc.
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