Chandelier neurons or chandelier cells are a subset of

GABAergic In molecular biology and physiology, something is GABAergic or GABAnergic if it pertains to or affects the neurotransmitter GABA. For example, a synapse is GABAergic if it uses GABA as its neurotransmitter, and a GABAergic neuron produces GABA. A ...

cortical

interneuron Interneurons (also called internuncial neurons, relay neurons, association neurons, connector neurons, intermediate neurons or local circuit neurons) are neurons that connect two brain regions, i.e. not direct motor neurons or sensory neurons. I ...

s. They are described as

parvalbumin Parvalbumin (PV) is a calcium-binding protein with low molecular weight (typically 9-11 kDa). In humans, it is encoded by the ''PVALB'' gene. It is not a member of the albumin family; it is named for its size (''parv-'', from Latin ''parvus'' smal ...

-containing and fast- spiking to distinguish them from other subtypes of GABAergic neurons, although more recent work has suggested that only a subset of chandelier cells test positive for parvalbumin by immunostaining. The name comes from the specific shape of their

axon An axon (from Greek ἄξων ''áxōn'', axis), or nerve fiber (or nerve fibre: see spelling differences), is a long, slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, in vertebrates, that typically conducts electrical impulses known as action po ...

arbors, with the terminals forming distinct arrays called "''cartridges''". The cartridges are immunoreactive to an isoform of the GABA membrane transporter, GAT-1, and this serves as their identifying feature. GAT-1 is involved in the process of GABA reuptake into nerve terminals, thus helping to terminate its synaptic activity. Chandelier neurons synapse exclusively to the axon initial segment of

pyramidal neurons Pyramidal cells, or pyramidal neurons, are a type of multipolar neuron found in areas of the brain including the cerebral cortex, the hippocampus, and the amygdala. Pyramidal neurons are the primary excitation units of the mammalian prefrontal cor ...

, near the site where

action potential An action potential occurs when the membrane potential of a specific cell location rapidly rises and falls. This depolarization then causes adjacent locations to similarly depolarize. Action potentials occur in several types of animal cells, ...

is generated. It is believed that they provide inhibitory input to the pyramidal neurons, but there is data showing that in some circumstances the GABA from chandelier neurons could be excitatory. The axon cartridges formed by chandelier cells are one of the synapse types that show the most dramatic changes during normal adolescence, and could potentially be relevant to the adult onset of psychiatric disease. Furthering this link, in

schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by continuous or relapsing episodes of psychosis. Major symptoms include hallucinations (typically hearing voices), delusions, and disorganized thinking. Other symptoms include social withdra ...

, scientists have observed changes in their form and functionality, such as 40% decrease in the axon terminal density.

References

External links

SRF interviews David Lewis
- an interview touching on the GABAergic neuronal dysfunction in schizophrenia and the role of the chandelier cells.
NIF Search - Chandelier Cell
via the

Neuroscience Information Framework The Neuroscience Information Framework is a repository of global neuroscience web resources, including experimental, clinical, and translational neuroscience databases, knowledge bases, atlases, and genetic/ genomic resources and provides many aut ...

Cortical Development
- images of chandelier neurons and information on their developmental changes. Translational Neuroscience Program at the University of Pittsburgh.

- A type of brain cell called a chandelier neuron might be what gives us the edge over other mammals in thought and language, ''New Scientist'', 3 September 2008 {{DEFAULTSORT:Chandelier Cell Central nervous system neurons Neurons