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The Thalamic Interneuron

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Dendritic Neurotransmitter Release

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Abstract

The thalamic interneuron exemplified by that found in the cat’s lateral geniculate nucleus provides a potent GABAergic and thus inhibitory input to relay cells. It thus plays a key role in controlling the flow of information to cortex. The synaptic inputs from these interneurons to relay cells are particularly interesting for two reasons. First, the interneuron appears to employ two independent input/output routes: a conventional axonal one that integrates inputs onto the cell body and proximal dendrites; and an unconventional one involving dendritic outputs that are both presynaptic and postsynaptic. Cable modeling suggests that the dendritic output route is organized into numerous, functionally independent streams that are also independent of the cell body and thus action potential generation. Second, the dendritic outputs in addition to being presynaptic to relay cell dendrites, are postsynaptic chiefly to either retinal or parabrachial inputs. Details of these output synapses, which involve complex circuits known as triads found widely throughout thalamus, lead to rather speculative but testable ideas regarding how interneurons help modulate relay cell activity. It is hoped that following through some of these ideas will provide genuine insights into the functioning of this circuitry that appears key to thalamic relays.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurobiology, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-5230

    S. Murray Sherman

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  1. S. Murray Sherman
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  1. Edinburgh University Medical School, Edinburgh, Scotland

    Mike Ludwig

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Sherman, S.M. (2005). The Thalamic Interneuron. In: Ludwig, M. (eds) Dendritic Neurotransmitter Release. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-23696-1_9

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