A simplified morphological classification scheme for pyramidal cells in six layers of primary somatosensory cortex of juvenile rats. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Yun; Ye, Min; Kuang, Xiuli; Li, Yaoyao; Hu, Shisi
• Is Part Of: IBRO reports. Volume 5(2018)
• Page Start: 74
• Page End: 90
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: Somatosensory cortex -- Cortical layers -- Cell types -- Pyramidal cells -- Dendrites -- Apical dendrites; Nervous system -- Periodicals; Brain -- Periodicals; Brain -- Research -- Periodicals; Nervous system; Brain -- Research; Brain; Neurology; Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; Periodical
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ibror.2018.10.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2451-8301

Abstract

Highlights: A simplified classification scheme for PCs by identifying apical dendritic morphology. This classification scheme yielded 19 PC types cross all 6 layers of juvenile rat SSC. Three aims are: to introduce a simplified classification scheme for the PCs in different layers of SSC. to present a full spectrum of various PCs based on a large amount of neurons reconstructed from SSC. to reveal the structural organizing principles of PCs in different layers in a quantitative way. Abstract: The majority of neurons in the neocortex are excitatory pyramidal cells (PCs). Many systematic classification schemes have been proposed based the neuronal morphology, the chemical composition, and the synaptic connectivity, etc . Recently, a cortical column of primary somatosensory cortex (SSC) has been reconstruction and functionally simulated (Markram et al., 2015). Putting forward from this study, here we proposed a simplified classification scheme for PCs in all layers of the SSC by mainly identifying apical dendritic morphology based on a large data set of 3D neuron reconstructions. We used this scheme to classify three types in layer 2, two in layer 3, three in layer 4, four in layer 5, and six types in layer 6. These PC types were visually distinguished and confirmed by quantitative differences in their morphometric properties. The classes yielded using this scheme largely corresponded with PC classes that were defined previously based on other neuronal and synaptic properties such as long-range projects and synaptic innervations, further validating its applicability. Therefore, the morphology information of apical dendrites is sufficient for a simple scheme to classify a spectrum of anatomical types of PCs in the SSC.