Cellular and circuit features distinguish dentate gyrus semilunar granule cells and granule cells activated during contextual memory formation.

ABSTRACT: The dentate gyrus is critical for spatial memory formation and shows task related activation of cellular ensembles considered as memory engrams. Semilunar granule cells (SGCs), a sparse dentate projection neuron subtype distinct from granule cells (GCs), were recently reported to be enriched among behaviorally activated neurons. However, the mechanisms governing SGC recruitment during memory formation and their role in engram refinement remains unresolved. By examining neurons labeled during contextual memory formation in TRAP2 mice, we empirically tested competing hypotheses for GC and SGC recruitment into memory ensembles. In support of the proposal that more excitable neurons are preferentially recruited into memory ensembles, SGCs showed greater sustained firing than GCs. Additionally,

SUBMITTER: Dovek L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11370351 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature