# Spatiotemporal control of dendritic inhibition by a family of diverse somatostatin-expressing interneurons

> **NIH NIH R01** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2022 · $591,656

## Abstract

Summary
GABAergic interneurons (INs) are a diverse group of neurons with critical roles in signal processing in the
cerebral cortex. Moreover, malfunction of these neurons has been implicated in a number of diseases ranging
from epilepsy to schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and autism. This project is focused on the GABAergic INs
that express the neuropeptide somatostatin (SST). These cells represent the second largest family of INs in
the neocortex. SST INs make synapses on the dendrites of pyramidal cells (PCs) and other interneurons and
have been shown to be important for dendritic integration, as well as non-linear dendritic operations, Ca2+
signaling, and plasticity. SST INs were recently suggested, based on the analysis of their patterns of in vivo
activity in multiple types of sensory cortices, to be involved in a disinhibitory canonical circuit that is thought to
be important in brain state-dependent control of cortical function. However, these studies have been limited to
superficial cortical layers. Using a new method for the in vivo recording and labeling of genetically-tagged
neurons throughout the brain we recorded for the first time from SST IN throughout the whole cortical column
and discovered an unappreciated diversity of SST INs in L5/6 of somatosensory cortex. SST IN subtypes
differed in the laminar distribution of their axon and had distinct patterns of in vivo activity. Taking advantage of
our expanded understanding of SST IN diversity and the availability of novel genetic tools that allow the
identification and manipulation of SST IN subtypes with increased specificity, the goal of this project is to test
the hypothesis that SST IN subtypes differentially control the activity of specific PC dendritic branches during
behavior. We will study the connectivity of L5/6 SST IN subtypes to different types of L5 PCs and determine
the subcellular localization of IN synapses on the L5 PC dendrite (Aim 1). In Aim 2 electrophysiological
recording, Ca2+ imaging and optogenetic manipulations will be used to investigate the function of distinct SST
In subtypes on active touch responses in pyramidal cells and their cross-modal modulation by sound. Aim 3
will develop an experimentally-based model of the selective gating of information in PC dendrites mediated by
SST IN subtypes. These studies will advance our understanding of SST IN function and the mechanisms of top
down modulation of sensory processing.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10437823
- **Project number:** 5R01NS110079-05
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Bernardo Rudy
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $591,656
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-30 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10437823

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10437823, Spatiotemporal control of dendritic inhibition by a family of diverse somatostatin-expressing interneurons (5R01NS110079-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10437823. Licensed CC0.

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