Abstract
Recent evidence indicates the existence of interaction between neurons and glial cells. In view of the bidirectional interaction between these cells, the spatial relation may be important because the close proximity is essential to influence each other. To investigate the mutual interaction, therefore, we chose and focused on the perineuronal glial cells (PGs) in the stratum radiatum of CA1 region of rat sliced hippocampus. As a first step, we attempted to make a classification of the PGs. For this purpose we performed whole-cell recording from the PGs and examined their morphological and immunohistochemical properties. Results indicated that PGs could be classified into two groups based on their membrane properties, one group with relatively low input resistance and relatively deep resting membrane potential, and the other with high input resistance and shallow resting membrane potential compared to the former. Combining the morphological and immunohistochemical studies, we confirmed cells in the former group belong astrocytes and those in the latter group oligodendrocytes. These results will provide cues to distinguish glial cell type during physiological experiment and may contribute to the study to understand the interaction between neurons and glial cells. We also performed dual whole-cell recording from neurons and PGs and revealed the direct evidence of the effect of PGs on the synaptic transmission. [Jpn J Physiol 55 Suppl:S13 (2005)]
