Presynaptic GABA<sub>B</sub> receptors functionally uncouple somatostatin interneurons from the active hippocampal network.

Booker, Sam A; Harada, Harumi; Elgueta, Claudio; Bank, Julia; Bartos, Marlene; Kulik, Akos; Vida, Imre · Elife · 2020

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Information processing in cortical neuronal networks relies on properly balanced excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. A ubiquitous motif for maintaining this balance is the somatostatin interneuron (SOM-IN) feedback microcircuit. Here, we investigated the modulation of this microcircuit by presynaptic GABA<sub>B</sub> receptors (GABA<sub>B</sub>Rs) in the rodent hippocampus. Whole-cell recordings from SOM-INs revealed that both excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs are strongly inhibited by GABA<sub>B</sub>Rs, while optogenetic activation of the interneurons shows that their inhibitory output is also strongly suppressed. Electron microscopic analysis of immunogold-labelled freeze-fracture replicas confirms that GABA<sub>B</sub>Rs are highly expressed presynaptically at both input and output synapses of SOM-INs. Activation of GABA<sub>B</sub>Rs selectively suppresses the recruitment of SOM-INs during gamma oscillations induced in vitro. Thus, axonal GABA<sub>B</sub>Rs are positioned to efficiently control the input and output synapses of SOM-INs and can functionally uncouple them from local network with implications for rhythmogenesis and the balance of entorhinal versus intrahippocampal afferents.

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