Snapshots in Neuroscience: Dentate Gyrus Granule Cells

These images have been selected to showcase the art that neuroscience research can create.

As described by the authors: “This confocal image shows the histology of a hippocampal brain slice from a Thy1-GCaMP6s mouse. This mouse line expresses the calcium indicator GCaMP6s in a subset of excitatory neurons under the Thy1-promoter. In cyan are granule cells expressing GCaMP6s, highlighting the somata as well as the dendrites of these cells that reach out into the molecular layer. Depicted in magenta are the nuclei of all cells labeled with DAPI, highlighting the entire granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus.

“This mouse line was used for in vivo two photon imaging. We explored how the dentate gyrus granule cell network is recruited by an incoming stimulus signal. Data collected from this mouse line advanced understanding of how the granule cell network response is governed by inhibition while only very few granule cells get recruited. This suggests a high contrast in the system, which may be relevant for the formation of distinct memories.

“The image was taken using a Nikon confocal microscope with a 20x objective.”

This confocal image shows the somata and dendrites of granule cells expressing calcium indicator GCaMP6s (cyan). The nuclei of all cells are labeled with DAPI (magenta), highlighting the entire granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus. Image credit: Martin Pofahl.

Read the full article:

In Vivo Analysis of Medial Perforant Path-Evoked Excitation and Inhibition in Dentate Granule Cells
Martin Pofahl, Daniel Müller-Komorowska, Jonas Klussmann, Ilan Lampl, and Heinz Beck