This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Fukuda, T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fukuda, T. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Structural Organization of the Gap Junction Network in the Cerebral Cortex

Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Graduate School of Medical Sciences Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan, fukuda{at}a3rd.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Neurons in mammalian brains are heavily interconnected by specialized junctions called chemical synapses. At chemical synapses, signals are transmitted rather indirectly between connected neurons with some delay. Recent studies have revealed additional channels for neuronal communication, that is, gap junctions. As electrical signals are directly transmitted through gap junctions without delay, gap junctions can mediate synchronous activities of coupled neurons. In the cerebral cortex, both morphological and physiological studies have established frequent occurrence of gap junctions between dendrites of GABAergic interneurons of particular types. However, it remains unclear how the dendritic network of these interneurons is extended three-dimensionally within the tissue architecture. The present article reviews recent findings on structural aspects of the gap junction network in the cerebral cortex. The three-dimensional structure of the network is discussed on a basis of contrasting tissue organization in the two cortical areas, the hippocampus and neocortex. The controversial issue on the presence and function of distal gap junctions is addressed. Quantitative analysis of the distribution of gap junctions along dendritic profiles suggests lateral continuity of the network that extends in a boundless manner. Functional implications of this lateral continuity are discussed with particular reference to variability in local cell assemblies. NEUROSCIENTIST 13(3):199—207, 2007.

Key Words: Gap junctions • Neocortex • Hippocampus • GABA • Parvalbumin

The Neuroscientist, Vol. 13, No. 3, 199-207 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1073858406296760


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Fukuda Network Architecture of Gap Junction-Coupled Neuronal Linkage in the Striatum J. Neurosci., January 28, 2009; 29(4): 1235 - 1243. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]