Interneuron
| Interneuron | |
|---|---|
 An interneuron (relay neuron) forms part of a reflex arc | |
| Identifiers | |
| MeSH | D007395 |
| NeuroLex ID | birnlex_2534 |
| TH | H2.00.06.1.00058 |
| FMA | 67313 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
An interneuron (also called relay neuron, association neuron, connector neuron or local circuit neuron) is a neuron that forms a connection between other neurons. Interneurons are neither motor nor sensory. The term is also applied to brain and spinal cord neurons whose axons connect only with nearby neurons, to distinguish them from "projection" neurons, whose axons (projection fibers) project to more distant regions of the brain or spinal cord.
Interneurons in the central nervous system
When contrasted with the peripheral nervous system (PNS), the neurons of the central nervous system (CNS), including the brain, are all interneurons. However, in the CNS, the term interneuron is used for small, locally projecting neurons (in contrast to larger projection neurons with long-distance connections). CNS interneurons are typically inhibitory, and use the neurotransmitter GABA or glycine. However, excitatory interneurons using glutamate also exist, as do interneurons releasing neuromodulators like acetylcholine.
In 2008, a nomenclature for the features of GABAergic cortical interneurons was proposed, called Petilla terminology.[1]
Inhibitory interneurons are thought to play an important role in the generation of neural oscillations.[2]
Current list of Petilla Interneurons maintained by the NeuroLex
http://neurolex.org/wiki/Category:Intrinsic_neuron_role
Spinal interneurons
- 1a Inhibitory Neuron: Found in Lamina VII. Responsible for inhibiting antagonist motor neuron. 1a spindle afferents activate 1a inhibitory neuron.
- 1b Inhibitory Neuron: Found in Lamina V, VI, VII. afferent or Golgi tendon organ activates it.
Cortical interneurons
- Parvalbumin-containing interneurons
- CCK-containing interneurons
- VIP-containing interneurons
Cerebellar interneurons
- Molecular layer interneurons (basket cells, stellate cells)
- Golgi cells
- Granule cells
References
- ^ Ascoli GA; Alonso-Nanclares L; Anderson SA; et al. (2008). "Petilla terminology: nomenclature of features of GABAergic interneurons of the cerebral cortex". Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 9 (7): 557–568. doi:10.1038/nrn2402. PMC 2868386. PMID 18568015.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|author-separator=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - ^ Whittington MA, Traub RD, Kopell N, Ermentrout B, Buhl EH (2000). "Inhibition-based rhythms: experimental and mathematical observations on network dynamics". Int J Psychophysiol. 38: 315–336.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
External links
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