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Petilla terminology: nomenclature of features of GABAergic interneurons of the cerebral cortex

Abstract

Neuroscience produces a vast amount of data from an enormous diversity of neurons. A neuronal classification system is essential to organize such data and the knowledge that is derived from them. Classification depends on the unequivocal identification of the features that distinguish one type of neuron from another. The problems inherent in this are particularly acute when studying cortical interneurons. To tackle this, we convened a representative group of researchers to agree on a set of terms to describe the anatomical, physiological and molecular features of GABAergic interneurons of the cerebral cortex. The resulting terminology might provide a stepping stone towards a future classification of these complex and heterogeneous cells. Consistent adoption will be important for the success of such an initiative, and we also encourage the active involvement of the broader scientific community in the dynamic evolution of this project.

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Figure 1: Somatic and dendritic morphology: shape and fine structure.
Figure 2: Basic morphological features that describe neuronal branching.
Figure 3: Axonal morphology and synaptic structure.
Figure 4: Functional characterization of interneurons.
Figure 5: Petilla terminology: types of firing patterns.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to funding agencies in their respective countries for supporting this work. The Gobierno de Navarra/Nafarroako Gobernua and the town and people of Petilla are acknowledged for graciously hosting the meeting that originated this document. Special thanks are due to A. Rowan, who attended the Petilla meeting and greatly contributed to establishing the initial vision for this report.

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Correspondence to Giorgio A. Ascoli or Rafael Yuste.

Supplementary information

Supplementary information S1 (box)

Author addresses (PDF 120 kb)

Supplementary information S2 (box)

Nomenclature of morphological features. (PDF 105 kb)

Supplementary information S3 (box)

Nomenclature of molecular features (PDF 91 kb)

Supplementary information S4 (box)

Nomenclature of physiological features. (PDF 93 kb)

Supplementary information S5 (figure)

Somato-dendritic characteristics of cortical interneurons. (PDF 107 kb)

Supplementary information S6 (figure)

Target specificity of cortical interneurons. (PDF 335 kb)

Supplementary information S7 (figure)

Combining morphological and functional criteria. (PDF 433 kb)

Supplementary information S8 (figure)

Electrophysiological and morphological characteristics of primate cortical interneurons. (PDF 437 kb)

Supplementary information S9 (figure)

Near-threshold differences in discharge patterns of neocortical FS interneurons. (PDF 334 kb)

Supplementary information S10 (figure)

Differences between species: prefrontal cortex neurogliaform (NGF) cells. (PDF 316 kb)

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The Petilla Interneuron Nomenclature Group (PING). Petilla terminology: nomenclature of features of GABAergic interneurons of the cerebral cortex. Nat Rev Neurosci 9, 557–568 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2402

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