GABAergic Cells Are the Major Postsynaptic Targets of Mossy Fibers in the Rat Hippocampus

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.18-09-03386.1998
• Publication Date: 2018-04-03T03:05:16Z
• Authors: László Acsády; Anita Kamondi; Attila Sı́k; Tamás Freund; György Buzsáki
• Keywords: Granule cell; Interneuron

Dentate granule cells communicate with their postsynaptic targets by three distinct terminal types. These include the large mossy terminals, filopodial extensions of and smaller en passant synaptic varicosities. We examined fibers combining in vivo intracellular labeling cells, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy. Single formed large, complex “mossy” synapses on 11–15 CA3 pyramidal 7–12 hilar cells. In contrast, GABAergic interneurons, identified immunostaining for substance P-receptor, parvalbumin, mGluR1a-receptor, were selectively innervated very thin (filopodial) terminals small boutons both regions. single, often perforated, asymmetric cell bodies, dendrites, spines interneurons. The number was 10 times larger than terminals. findings show that contrast to cortical neurons, (1) developed types affect interneurons (2) they more inhibitory excitatory may explain physiological observations increased activity suppresses overall excitability recurrent system form structural basis target-dependent regulation glutamate release fiber system.