Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: THE CIRCUITRY OF THE DENTATE GYRUS (DG) OF THE HIPPOCAMPUS IS UNIQUE COMPARED TO OTHER HIPPOCAMPAL SUBFIELDS BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO GLUTAMATERGIC PRINCIPAL CELLS INSTEAD OF ONE: granule cells, which are the vast majority of the cells in the DG, and the so-called "mossy cells." The distinctive appearance of mossy cells, the extensive divergence of their axons, and their vulnerability to excitotoxicity relative to granule cells has led to a great deal of interest in mossy cells. Nevertheless, there is no consensus about the normal functions of mossy cells and the implications of their vulnerability. There even seems to be some ambiguity about exactly what mossy cells are. Here we review initial studies of mossy cells, characteristics that define them, and suggest a practical definition to allow investigators to distinguish mossy cells from other hilar neurons even if all morphological and physiological information is unavailable due to technical limitations of their experiments. In addition, hypotheses are discussed about the role of mossy cells in the DG network, reasons for their vulnerability and their implications for disease.
Source: Frontiers in Neural Circuits
Authors: Helen E. Scharfman, Catherine E. Myers
Language: English
Topic: Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W2093316793