Here, we describe a robust method for mapping the number and type of neuro-chemically distinct synaptic inputs that a single reconstructed neuron receives. We have used individual hypoglossal motor neurons filled with Neurobiotin by semi-loose seal electroporation in thick brainstem slices. These filled motor neurons were then processed for excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs, using immun...

The human basal ganglia constitutes a functional neural network located at the base of the forebrain. It receives most of its afferent inputs through the striatum, the major nucleus of the basal ganglia accomplishing fast neurotransmitter-mediated operations through somatotopically organized projections to the principal neuron cell type, the striatal GABAergic spiny projection neurons. This spi...

BACKGROUND Chronic exposure to nicotine elicits physical dependence in smokers, yet the mechanism and neuroanatomical bases for withdrawal symptoms are unclear. As in humans, rodents undergo physical withdrawal symptoms after cessation from chronic nicotine characterized by increased scratching, head nods, and body shakes. RESULTS Here we show that induction of physical nicotine withdrawal sy...

beta-Amyloid peptide (A beta), the principal component of senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease, has been found to be neurotoxic. The role of A beta in the deficits of the GABAergic system in patients with Alzheimer's disease is unclear. It has been suggested that the cytotoxic activity of A beta is localized to amino acid residues 25-35 of this peptide, which contains a total of 42 amino acid ...

The firing patterns of neurons in the globus pallidus (GP) are affected by two major sources of GABAergic inhibition: striatal afferents and local axon collaterals. Local GABAergic GP-GP synapses display short-term depression (STD) and very sparse connectivity. At the high presynaptic firing rates typical in the GP, one would expect this STD to be complete, practically cancelling the postsynapt...

Leptin acts in the brain to prevent obesity. The underlying neurocircuitry responsible for this is poorly understood, in part because of incomplete knowledge regarding first-order, leptin-responsive neurons. To address this, we and others have been removing leptin receptors from candidate first-order neurons. While functionally relevant neurons have been identified, the observed effects have be...

The production of new neurons in the adult hippocampus is exquisitely regulated, and alterations in this process may underlie both normal and pathological hippocampal function. In this issue of Neuron, Tozuka et al. describe electrophysiological recordings that target proliferating progenitor cells in adult mouse hippocampal slices. They report that GABAergic synaptic inputs directly depolarize...

The tangential migration of GABAergic interneurons to the cortex requires the activity of several transcription factors, but the mechanisms involved have remained elusive. In this issue of Neuron, Rubenstein and colleagues demonstrate that the homeobox proteins Dlx1 and Dlx2 promote interneuron migration in part by preventing the premature expression of PAK3, a serine/threonine kinase that is l...