Propagation of hippocampal ripples to the neocortex by way of a subiculum-retrosplenial pathway

Nat Commun. 2020 Apr 23;11(1):1947. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-15787-8.

Abstract

Bouts of high frequency activity known as sharp wave ripples (SPW-Rs) facilitate communication between the hippocampus and neocortex. However, the paths and mechanisms by which SPW-Rs broadcast their content are not well understood. Due to its anatomical positioning, the granular retrosplenial cortex (gRSC) may be a bridge for this hippocampo-cortical dialogue. Using silicon probe recordings in awake, head-fixed mice, we show the existence of SPW-R analogues in gRSC and demonstrate their coupling to hippocampal SPW-Rs. gRSC neurons reliably distinguished different subclasses of hippocampal SPW-Rs according to ensemble activity patterns in CA1. We demonstrate that this coupling is brain state-dependent, and delineate a topographically-organized anatomical pathway via VGlut2-expressing, bursty neurons in the subiculum. Optogenetic stimulation or inhibition of bursty subicular cells induced or reduced responses in superficial gRSC, respectively. These results identify a specific path and underlying mechanisms by which the hippocampus can convey neuronal content to the neocortex during SPW-Rs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Waves / physiology*
  • CA1 Region, Hippocampal / physiology
  • Hippocampus / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neocortex / physiology*
  • Neural Pathways / physiology
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Synaptic Transmission
  • Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2 / genetics
  • Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2 / metabolism
  • Wakefulness / physiology

Substances

  • Slc17a6 protein, mouse
  • Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2