Katarzyna Palus

Orexins/hypocretins modulate the activity of NPY-positive and -negative neurons in the rat intergeniculate leaflet via OX1 and OX2 receptors

Orexins/hypocretins (OXA and OXB) are two hypothalamic peptides involved in the regulation of many physiological processes including the sleep-wake cycle, food intake and arousal. The orexinergic system of the lateral hypothalamus is considered a non-specific peptidergic system, and its nerve fibers innervate numerous brain areas. Among many targets of orexinergic neurons is the intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) of the thalamus - a small but important structure of the mammalian biological clock. In rats, the IGL consists of GABAergic cells which also synthesize different neuropeptides. One group of neurons produces neuropeptide Y (NPY) and sends its axons to the master biological clock known as the suprachiasmatic nuclei. Another neuronal group produces enkephalin and is known to connect contralateral IGLs. This study evaluated the effects of orexins on identified IGL neurons revealing that 58% of the recorded neurons were sensitive to OXA (200nM) and OXB (200nM) administration. Both NPY-positive and -negative neurons were depolarized by these neuropeptides. Experiments using selective orexin receptor antagonists (SB-334867, 10μM and TCS-OX2-29, 10μM) suggested that both orexin receptors participate in the recorded OXA effects. In addition, IGL neurons were either directly depolarized by OXA or their activity was altered by changes in presynaptic inputs. We observed an increase of GABA release onto the investigated IGL neuron after OXA application, consistent with a presynaptic localization of the orexin receptors. An increase in miniature excitatory postsynaptic current frequency was not observed within the IGL. Our findings reinforce the connection between circadian clock physiology and the orexinergic system.

Two distinct subpopulations of neurons in the thalamic intergeniculate leaflet identified by subthreshold currents

The intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) is a flat retinorecipient thalamic structure implicated in orchestrating circadian rhythm, historically considered to be a subdivision of the neighboring ventrolateral geniculate nucleus (VLG). IGL consists of two main neuronal subpopulations: enkephalinergic and neuropeptide Y (NPY)-synthesizing cells. These cell types have different functions, connectivity and firing pattern in vivo, which suggest that they have different membrane currents to support their functional differences. We therefore performed patch-clamp experiments combined with immunohistochemical staining to clarify possible differences in the subthreshold currents of IGL neurons. Our results suggest that IGL neurons can be divided into two subpopulations based on two ionic currents. A T-type calcium current (IT) was identified in neurons that do not synthesise NPY, whereas all NPY-positive neurons were found to express a marked A-type potassium current (IA). Due to the fact that the clear electrophysiological discriminants between IGL and VLG are lacking, we decided to compare the amplitudes of the identified currents between those two structures. Our data suggest that VLG neurons can be characterized by a high amplitude IT and a low IA. Finally, we compared both currents with WAG/Rij rats, a well-established model of absence epilepsy, with co-occurring retinal pathologies, sleep-onset disturbances, and seizures exhibiting circadian rhythmicity. Data presented in this study uncovered pathologies in the IT exhibiting neurons of the IGL and VLG. In conclusion, the data presented here suggest that different subthreshold current expression supports the functional differences of thalamic nuclei. Those differences are promising for possible pharmacological manipulations of specified cell types in pathophysiologies including absence epilepsy.

Enkephalin and neuropeptide-Y interaction in the intergeniculate leaflet network, a part of the mammalian biological clock

The intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) is a flat thalamic nucleus implicated in the modulation of circadian rhythmicity. In rat, two main GABAergic subpopulations can be distinguished in the IGL: neurons synthesizing neuropeptide Y (NPY), which directly innervates the suprachiasmatic nuclei, and enkephalinergic cells, which connect contralaterally located leaflets. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible effects of inner IGL neurotransmitters on the spontaneous and synaptic activity of IGL neurons. The data presented in this article provide evidence that enkephalin, and not NPY, could act upon the majority of IGL neurons. Moreover, we investigated the type of opioid receptor activated by enkephalin and showed that the μ-receptor is functionally predominant in the IGL. The application of met-enkephalin not only robustly hyperpolarized IGL neurons (both putatively NPY-synthesizing and putatively enkephalinergic neurons), but it also was able to inhibit GABAergic and glutamatergic synaptic transmission. Based on this and previous studies, we hypothesize that IGL enkephalinergic neurons may act as powerful interneurons that inhibit themselves and NPY-synthesizing neurons, also in the contralaterally located IGL.

Disinhibition of the intergeniculate leaflet network in the WAG/Rij rat model of absence epilepsy.

ABSTRACT The intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) of the thalamus is a retinorecipient structure implicated in orchestrating circadian rhythmicity. The IGL network is highly GABAergic and consists mainly of neuropeptide Y‐synthesising and enkephalinergic neurons. A high density of GFAP‐immunoreactive astrocytes has been observed in the IGL, with a probable function in guarding neuronal inhibition. Interestingly, putatively enkephalinergic IGL neurons generate action potentials with an infra‐slow oscillatory (ISO) pattern in vivo in urethane anesthetised Wistar rats, under light‐on conditions only. Absence epilepsy (AE) is a disease characterised by spike‐wave discharges present in the encephalogram, directly caused by hypersynchronous thalamo‐cortical oscillations. Many pathologies connected with the arousal system, such as abnormalities in sleep architecture and an insufficient brain sleep‐promoting system accompany the epileptic phenotype. We hypothesise that disturbances in the function of biological clock structures, controlling this rhythmic physiological process, may be responsible for the observed pathomechanism. To test this hypothesis, we performed an in vitro patch‐clamp study on WAG/Rij rats, a well‐validated genetic model of AE, in order to assess dampened GABAergic synaptic transmission in the IGL expressed as a lower IPSC amplitude and reduced sIPSC frequency. Moreover, our in vivo extracellular recordings showed higher firing rate of ISO IGL neurons with an abnormal reaction to a change in constant illumination (maintenance of rhythmic neuronal activity in darkness) in the AE model. Additional immunohistochemical experiments indicated astrogliosis in the area of the IGL, which may partially underlie the observed changes in inhibition. Altogether, the data presented here show for the first time the disinhibition of IGL neurons in a model of AE, thereby proposing the possible involvement of circadian‐related brain structures in the epileptic phenotype. HighlightsIPSC amplitude and sIPSC frequency are lowered in intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) in WAG/Rij rats.Infra‐slow oscillatory activity in IGL persists in darkness in absence epilepsy model.Astrogliosis was found in IGLs collected from WAG/Rij rats.