Neuron
Volume 99, Issue 2, 25 July 2018, Pages 404-412.e3
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Article
OLMα2 Cells Bidirectionally Modulate Learning

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2018.06.022Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • OLM cells of the intermediate hippocampus express the nicotinic receptor α2 subunit

  • Activation of intermediate OLMα2 cells impairs object and fear-related memory encoding

  • Inhibition of intermediate OLMα2 cells enhances object memory encoding

  • Dorsal and intermediate OLM cells differentially modulate learning

Summary

Inhibitory interneurons participate in mnemonic processes. However, defined roles for identified interneuron populations are scarce. A subpopulation of oriens lacunosum-moleculare (OLM) interneurons genetically defined by the expression of the nicotinic receptor α2 subunit has been shown to gate information carried by either the temporoammonic pathway or Schaffer collaterals in vitro. Here we set out to determine whether selective modulation of OLMα2 cells in the intermediate CA1 affects learning and memory in vivo. Our data show that intermediate OLMα2 cells can either enhance (upon their inhibition) or impair (upon their activation) object memory encoding in freely moving mice, thus exerting bidirectional control. Moreover, we find that OLMα2 cell activation inhibits fear-related memories and that OLMα2 cells respond differently to nicotine in the dorsoventral axis. These results suggest that intermediate OLMα2 cells are an important component in the CA1 microcircuit regulating learning and memory processes.

Keywords

OLM cells
object recognition
passive inhibitory avoidance
memory

Cited by (0)

3

These authors contributed equally

4

Current address: Donders Institute for Brain, Behaviour, and Cognition, Nijmegen 6525 EN, Gelderland, Netherlands

5

Lead contact