Topic: neuron-derived neurotrophic factor

Cortex harbors a diverse range of inhibitory interneuron (IN) types, each of which shapes cortical activity in a unique way. Collectively, these INs control and orchestrate neuronal activity, thereby bestowing cortex with its computational power. Whereas genetic markers have greatly facilitated the study of various cortical IN types, a selective marker for INs in L1 has long been missing. Here, we use the recently identified neuron-derived neurotrophic factor (NDNF) to characterize the properties of mouse auditory cortex L1INs in vitro. First, using in vitro patch-clamp recordings in combinati

A coherent representation of the external world requires the integration of sensory (bottom-up) input with contextual (top-down) information. Contextual signals reach primary cortical sensory areas through layer 1 (L1), the outermost layer of the neocortex. L1 harbors somas of GABAergic interneurons (INs), positioned among dendritic tufts of pyramidal neurons (PNs) and projections originating from cortical and subcortical areas. Neuron-derived neurotrophic factor (NDNF) is expressed by ~70% of the L1 IN population, which was shown to be activated by incoming top-down information. However, how