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1 Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zuerich/ETHZ, Zuerich, ZH, Switzerland; John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
2 Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zuerich/ETHZ, Zuerich, ZH, Switzerland; John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; ANU Medical School, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: Christian.Stricker{at}anu.edu.au.
There are two types of excitatory neurones within layer IV of rat somatosensory cortex: star pyramidal (SP) and spiny stellate cells (SS). We examined the intrinsic properties and connectivity between these neurones to determine differences in function. 84 whole-cell recordings of pairs of neurones were examined in slices of rat barrel cortex at 36 ± 1°C. Only minimal differences in intrinsic properties were found, however, differences in synaptic strength could clearly be demonstrated. Connections between homonymous pairs (SS-SS or SP-SP) had a higher efficacy than heteronymous connections. This difference was mainly a result of quantal content. In 42 pairs, synaptic dynamics were examined. Sequences of action potentials (3-20 Hz) in the presynaptic neurone consistently caused synaptic depression (E2/E1 = 0.53 ± 0.18). The dominant component of depression was release-independent; this depression occurred even when preceding action potentials had failed to cause a response. The release-dependence of depression was target specific; in addition release-independence was greater for postsynaptic SPs. In a subset of connections formed only between SP and any other cell type (43%), synaptic efficacy was dependent on the presynaptic membrane potential (Vm); at -55 mV, the connections were almost silent, whereas at -85 mV, transmission was very reliable. We suggest that within layer IV, there is stronger efficacy between homonymous than between heteronymous excitatory connections. Under dynamic conditions, the functional connectivity is shaped by synaptic efficacy at individual connections, by Vm, and by the specificity in the types of synaptic depression.
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