Hilar mossy cell degeneration causes transient dentate granule cell hyperexcitability and impaired pattern separation.

ABSTRACT: Although excitatory mossy cells of the hippocampal hilar region are known to project both to dentate granule cells and to interneurons, it is as yet unclear whether mossy cell activity's net effect on granule cells is excitatory or inhibitory. To explore their influence on dentate excitability and hippocampal function, we generated a conditional transgenic mouse line, using the Cre/loxP system, in which diphtheria toxin receptor was selectively expressed in mossy cells. One week after injecting toxin into this line, mossy cells throughout the longitudinal axis were degenerated extensively, theta wave power of dentate local field potentials increased during exploration, and deficits occurred in contextual discrimination. By contrast, we detected no epileptiform activity, spontaneous behavio

SUBMITTER: Jinde S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3530172 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature