Involvement of Mossy Cells in Sharp Wave-Ripple Activity In Vitro

Aarti Swaminathan; Ines Wichert; Dietmar Schmitz; Nikolaus Maier

doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2018.04.095

Involvement of Mossy Cells in Sharp Wave-Ripple Activity In Vitro

Cell Rep. 2018 May 29;23(9):2541-2549. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.04.095.

Authors

Aarti Swaminathan¹, Ines Wichert², Dietmar Schmitz³, Nikolaus Maier⁴

Affiliations

¹ Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Neuroscience Research Center, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Cluster of Excellence NeuroCure, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
² Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
³ Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Neuroscience Research Center, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health, 10178 Berlin, Germany; Cluster of Excellence NeuroCure, 10117 Berlin, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
⁴ Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Neuroscience Research Center, 10117 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: nikolaus.maier@charite.de.

PMID: 29847786
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.04.095

Abstract

The role of mossy cells (MCs) of the hippocampal dentate area has long remained mysterious. Recent research has begun to unveil their significance in spatial computation of the hippocampus. Here, we used an in vitro model of sharp wave-ripple complexes (SWRs), which contribute to hippocampal memory formation, to investigate MC involvement in this fundamental population activity. We find that a significant fraction of MCs (∼47%) is recruited into the active neuronal network during SWRs in the CA3 area. Moreover, MCs receive pronounced, ripple-coherent, excitatory and inhibitory synaptic input. Finally, we find evidence for SWR-related synaptic activity in granule cells that is mediated by MCs. Given the widespread connectivity of MCs within and between hippocampi, our data suggest a role for MCs as a hub functionally coupling the CA3 and the DG during ripple-associated computations.

Keywords: dentate gyrus; hilus; hippocampus; learning; mossy cell; sharp wave-ripple complex.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Action Potentials / physiology*
Animals
CA3 Region, Hippocampal / physiology
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / physiology
Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials / physiology
Mice
Mossy Fibers, Hippocampal / physiology*
Time Factors