Synaptic integration of transplanted interneuron progenitor cells into native cortical networks

• DOI: 10.1152/jn.00321.2016
• Publication Date: 2016-05-26T00:08:54Z
• Authors: MacKenzie A. Howard; Scott C. Baraban
• Keywords: Interneuron; Ganglionic eminence

Interneuron-based cell transplantation is a powerful method to modify network function in variety of neurological disorders, including epilepsy. Whether new interneurons integrate into native neural networks subtype-specific manner not well understood, and the therapeutic mechanisms underlying interneuron-based therapy, role synaptic inhibition, are debated. In this study, we tested integration transplanted using acute cortical brain slices visualized patch-clamp recordings measure excitatory inputs, intrinsic properties, inhibitory outputs. Fluorescently labeled progenitor cells from embryonic medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) were used for transplantation. At 5 wk after transplantation, MGE-derived parvalbumin-positive (PV+) received exhibited mature interneuron firing made functional connections pyramidal that comparable those PV+ interneurons. These findings demonstrate functionally subtype-appropriate physiological niches within host following