@misc{3814, abstract = {The axon terminals (mossy fibers) of hippocampal dentate granule cells form characteristic synaptic connections with large spines or excrescences of both hilar mossy cells and CA3 pyramidal neurons. Interneurons of the hilar region and area CA3 are also prominent targets of mossy fibers. The tracing of biocytin-filled mossy fibers and immunolabeling of target cells with interneuron markers has revealed that the majority of mossy fiber synapses project to gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic inhibitory interneurons rather than to excitatory principal cells, although the functional implications of these quantitative differences are unclear. Following a brief description of the "classical" mossy fiber synapse on excrescences of CA3 pyramidal cells, the present review focuses on the contacts formed between granule cells and GABAergic interneurons, both normally and after synaptic reorganization. In response to deafferentation of mossy cell target cells, which include both granule cells and interneurons, mossy fibers "sprout" new axon collaterals that form a band of supragranular mossy fibers in the inner molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. Although most newly formed recurrent mossy fibers establish synapses with granule cells, there is an apparently convergent input of new mossy fibers onto GABA-immunoreactive interneuron dendrites that traverse the inner molecular layer. These mossy fiber-interneuron synapses in the dentate gyrus are observed in chronically epileptic rats and may be the structural correlate of the granule cell hyperinhibition observed in these animals in vivo. Together, the findings reviewed here establish mossy fiber synapses as an important component of inhibitory circuits in the hippocampus.}, author = {Frotscher, Michael and Peter Jonas and Sloviter, Robert S}, booktitle = {Cell and Tissue Research}, number = {2}, pages = {361 -- 7}, publisher = {Springer}, title = {{Synapses formed by normal and abnormal hippocampal mossy fibers (Review)}}, doi = {10.1007/s00441-006-0269-2}, volume = {326}, year = {2006}, } @article{3815, abstract = {It is widely accepted that the hippocampus plays a major role in learning and memory. The mossy fiber synapse between granule cells in the dentate gyrus and pyramidal neurons in the CA3 region is a key component of the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit. Recent work, partially based on direct presynaptic patch-clamp recordings from hippocampal mossy fiber boutons, sheds light on the mechanisms of synaptic transmission and plasticity at mossy fiber synapses. A high Na(+) channel density in mossy fiber boutons leads to a large amplitude of the presynaptic action potential. Together with the fast gating of presynaptic Ca(2+) channels, this generates a large and brief presynaptic Ca(2+) influx, which can trigger transmitter release with high efficiency and temporal precision. The large number of release sites, the large size of the releasable pool of vesicles, and the huge extent of presynaptic plasticity confer unique strength to this synapse, suggesting a large impact onto the CA3 pyramidal cell network under specific behavioral conditions. The characteristic properties of the hippocampal mossy fiber synapse may be important for pattern separation and information storage in the dentate gyrus-CA3 cell network.}, author = {Bischofberger, Josef and Engel, Dominique and Frotscher, Michael and Peter Jonas}, journal = {Pflugers Archiv : European Journal of Physiology}, number = {3}, pages = {361 -- 72}, publisher = {Springer}, title = {{Timing and efficacy of transmitter release at mossy fiber synapses in the hippocampal network}}, doi = {10.1007/s00424-006-0093-2}, volume = {453}, year = {2006}, } @article{3811, abstract = {Networks of GABAergic neurons are key elements in the generation of gamma oscillations in the brain. Computational studies suggested that the emergence of coherent oscillations requires hyperpolarizing inhibition. Here, we show that GABA(A) receptor-mediated inhibition in mature interneurons of the hippocampal dentate gyrus is shunting rather than hyperpolarizing. Unexpectedly, when shunting inhibition is incorporated into a structured interneuron network model with fast and strong synapses, coherent oscillations emerge. In comparison to hyperpolarizing inhibition, networks with shunting inhibition show several advantages. First, oscillations are generated with smaller tonic excitatory drive. Second, network frequencies are tuned to the gamma band. Finally, robustness against heterogeneity in the excitatory drive is markedly improved. In single interneurons, shunting inhibition shortens the interspike interval for low levels of drive but prolongs it for high levels, leading to homogenization of neuronal firing rates. Thus, shunting inhibition may confer increased robustness to gamma oscillations in the brain.}, author = {Vida, Imre and Bartos, Marlene and Peter Jonas}, journal = {Neuron}, number = {1}, pages = {107 -- 17}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Shunting inhibition improves robustness of gamma oscillations in hippocampal interneuron networks by homogenizing firing rates}}, doi = {10.1016/j.neuron.2005.11.036}, volume = {49}, year = {2006}, } @article{3817, author = {Frotscher, Michael and Gundelfinger, Eckart and Peter Jonas and Neher, Erwin and Seeburg, Peter}, journal = {Cell and Tissue Research}, number = {2}, pages = {203 -- 4}, publisher = {Springer}, title = {{The most important recent advances in synapse research from my point of view--and what remains to be done}}, doi = {10.1007/s00441-006-0325-y}, volume = {326}, year = {2006}, } @article{3912, abstract = {Invasive species often dramatically change native species communities by directly and indirectly out-competing native species. We studied the direct interference abilities of the invasive garden ant, Lasius neglectus VAN LOON, BOOMSMA & ANDRÁSFALVY, 1990, by performing one-to-one aggression tests of L. neglectus workers towards three native Lasius ant species that occur at the edge of a L. neglectus supercolony in Seva, Spain. Our results show that L. neglectus is highly aggressive against all three native Lasius species tested (L. grandis FOREL, 1909, L. emarginatus (OLIVIER, 1792), and L. cinereus SEIFERT, 1992), expressed as a higher attack rate of L. neglectus and behavioural dominance throughout the aggressive encounters. Attacks of L. neglectus were performed fastest and most frequent against L. grandis, and also the highest antennation frequencies were observed in encounters between these two species. This could be due to the largest difference in body size, or due to a greater overlap in ecological niche between L. neglectus and L. grandis compared to the other two native species. There was only weak support for L. neglectus workers from the periphery of the supercolony to be more aggressive relative to workers from the centre, even though the former encounter native ant species on a daily basis at the edge of the supercolony.}, author = {Cremer, Sylvia and Ugelvig, Line V and Lommen, Suzanne and Petersen, Klaus and Pedersen, Jes}, journal = {Myrmecological News}, pages = {13 -- 19}, publisher = {Österreichische Gesellschaft für Entomofaunistik}, title = {{Attack of the invasive garden ant: aggression behaviour of Lasius neglectus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) against native Lasius species in Spain}}, volume = {9}, year = {2006}, }