Tonically active inhibition selectively controls feedforward circuits in mouse barrel cortex.

ABSTRACT: Tonic inhibition mediated by extrasynaptic gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA A) receptors is a powerful conductance that controls cell excitability. Throughout the CNS, tonic inhibition is expressed at varying degrees across different cell types. Despite a rich history of cortical interneuron diversity, little is known about tonic inhibition in the different classes of cells in the cerebral cortex. We therefore examined the cell-type specificity and functional significance of tonic inhibition in layer 4 of the mouse somatosensory barrel cortex. In situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry showed moderate delta-subunit expression across the barrel structures. Whole cell patch-clamp recordings additionally indicated that significant levels of tonic inhibition can be found across cell typ

SUBMITTER: Krook-Magnuson EI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2525715 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature