Contribution of interneuron subtype-specific GABAergic signalling to emergent sensory processing in mouse somatosensory whisker barrel cortex

Baruchin, L. J., Ghezzi, F., Kohl, M. M. and Butt, S. J.B. (2022) Contribution of interneuron subtype-specific GABAergic signalling to emergent sensory processing in mouse somatosensory whisker barrel cortex. Cerebral Cortex, 32(12), pp. 2538-2554. (doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhab363) (PMID:34613375) (PMCID:PMC9201598)

Abstract

Mammalian neocortex is important for conscious processing of sensory information with balanced glutamatergic and GABAergic signaling fundamental to this function. Yet little is known about how this interaction arises despite increasing insight into early GABAergic interneuron (IN) circuits. To study this, we assessed the contribution of specific INs to the development of sensory processing in the mouse whisker barrel cortex, specifically the role of INs in early speed coding and sensory adaptation. In wild-type animals, both speed processing and adaptation were present as early as the layer 4 critical period of plasticity and showed refinement over the period leading to active whisking onset. To test the contribution of IN subtypes, we conditionally silenced action-potential-dependent GABA release in either somatostatin (SST) or vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) INs. These genetic manipulations influenced both spontaneous and sensory-evoked cortical activity in an age- and layer-dependent manner. Silencing SST + INs reduced early spontaneous activity and abolished facilitation in sensory adaptation observed in control pups. In contrast, VIP + IN silencing had an effect towards the onset of active whisking. Silencing either IN subtype had no effect on speed coding. Our results show that these IN subtypes contribute to early sensory processing over the first few postnatal weeks.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Funding: A Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) project grant (BB/P003796/1); a Medical Sciences Internal Fund: Pump Priming grant (0006784) awarded to L.J.B. The studentship awarded to F.G. is funded by the Wellcome Trust (215199/Z/19/Z).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kohl, Dr Michael
• Authors: Baruchin, L. J., Ghezzi, F., Kohl, M. M., and Butt, S. J.B.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Cerebral Cortex
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 1047-3211
• ISSN (Online): 1460-2199
• Published Online: 06 October 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Cerebral Cortex 32(12): 2538-2554
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License