Neurons of the dentate molecular layer in the rabbit hippocampus

PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e48470. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048470. Epub 2012 Nov 7.

Abstract

The molecular layer of the dentate gyrus appears as the main entrance gate for information into the hippocampus, i.e., where the perforant path axons from the entorhinal cortex synapse onto the spines and dendrites of granule cells. A few dispersed neuronal somata appear intermingled in between and probably control the flow of information in this area. In rabbits, the number of neurons in the molecular layer increases in the first week of postnatal life and then stabilizes to appear permanent and heterogeneous over the individuals' life span, including old animals. By means of Golgi impregnations, NADPH histochemistry, immunocytochemical stainings and intracellular labelings (lucifer yellow and biocytin injections), eight neuronal morphological types have been detected in the molecular layer of developing adult and old rabbits. Six of them appear as interneurons displaying smooth dendrites and GABA immunoreactivity: those here called as globoid, vertical, small horizontal, large horizontal, inverted pyramidal and polymorphic. Additionally there are two GABA negative types: the sarmentous and ectopic granular neurons. The distribution of the somata and dendritic trees of these neurons shows preferences for a definite sublayer of the molecular layer: small horizontal, sarmentous and inverted pyramidal neurons are preferably found in the outer third of the molecular layer; vertical, globoid and polymorph neurons locate the intermediate third, while large horizontal and ectopic granular neurons occupy the inner third or the juxtagranular molecular layer. Our results reveal substantial differences in the morphology and electrophysiological behaviour between each neuronal archetype in the dentate molecular layer, allowing us to propose a new classification for this neural population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Count
  • Cell Shape
  • Dentate Gyrus / cytology*
  • Dentate Gyrus / metabolism
  • Dentate Gyrus / ultrastructure
  • Electrophysiological Phenomena
  • Female
  • Neurons / cytology*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / ultrastructure
  • Nissl Bodies / metabolism
  • Nissl Bodies / ultrastructure
  • Pyramidal Cells / cytology
  • Pyramidal Cells / metabolism
  • Rabbits
  • Staining and Labeling

Grants and funding

This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (grants SAF2010-14878 and BFU2011-22740) and Fundación Eugenio Rodriguez Pascual. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.