Table 3.1.
Cell type | Transmitter | Nomenclature | Afferent connections |
Efferent connections |
Specific markers |
Major electrophysiological properties |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Projection neurons | GABA | MSN— Direct pathway | Cortex, thalamus, interneurons, GPe | GPi, SNr, collaterals to GPe | DARPP-32, D1R | Fire sparsely. Require coordinated excitatory synaptic input to initiate spike |
MSN— Indirect pathway | Cortex, thalamus, interneurons, GPe | GPe | DARPP-32, D2R, A2A receptors | Fire sparsely. Require coordinated excitatory synaptic input to initiate spike | ||
Interneurons | GABA | FSI | Cortex, CM/Pf thalamus, GPe, interneurons | Proximal MSN dendrites/soma | Parvalbumin | Strong monosynaptic inhibition of MSN in vitro |
PLTS | MSN distal dendrite | NPY, SST, nNOS | Small IPSP on postsynaptic neuron | |||
CR+ | CR | |||||
TH+ | TH | GABA-dependent IPSP on postsynaptic neuron | ||||
Cholinergic | TAN | CM/pf thalamus, cortex, interneurons | MSN, interneurons, volume transmission | ChAT, VAChT, TrkA | Spontaneously fire at low frequencies (< 10 Hz). Pause in response to salient behavioral events |