Neuronal hyperexcitability occurs early in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and contributes to network dysfunction in AD patients. In other disorders with neuronal hyperexcitability, dysfunction in the dendrites often contributes, but dendritic excitability has not been directly examined in AD models. We used dendritic patch-clamp recordings to measure dendritic excitability in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. We found that dendrites, more so than somata, of hippocampal neurons were hyperexcitable in mice overexpressing A␤. This dendritic hyperexcitability was associated with depletion of Kv4.2, a dendritic potassium channel important for regulating dendritic excitability and synaptic plasticity. The antiepileptic drug, levetiracetam, blocked Kv4.2 depletion. Tau was required, as crossing with tau knock-out mice also prevented both Kv4.2 depletion and dendritic hyperexcitability. Dendritic hyperexcitability induced by Kv4.2 deficiency exacerbated behavioral deficits and increased epileptiform activity in hAPP mice. We conclude that increased dendritic excitability, associated with changes in dendritic ion channels including Kv4.2, may contribute to neuronal dysfunction in early stages AD.

The transcriptional coactivator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ␥ coactivator 1␣ (PGC-1␣) is a master regulator of metabolism in peripheral tissues, and it has been proposed that PGC-1␣ plays a similar role in the brain. Recent evidence suggests that PGC-1␣ is concentrated in GABAergic interneurons, so we investigated whether male and female PGC-1␣ Ϫ/Ϫ mice exhibit abnormalities in interneuron gene expression and/or function. We found a striking reduction in the expression of the Ca 2ϩ -binding protein parvalbumin (PV), but not other GABAergic markers, throughout the cerebrum in PGC-1␣ ϩ/Ϫ and Ϫ/Ϫ mice. Furthermore, PGC-1␣ overexpression in cell culture was sufficient to robustly induce PV expression. Consistent with a reduction in PV rather than a loss of PV-expressing interneurons, spontaneous synaptic inhibition was not altered in PGC-1␣ Ϫ/Ϫ mice. However, evoked synaptic responses displayed less paired-pulse depression and dramatic facilitation in response to repetitive stimulation at the gamma frequency. PV transcript expression was also significantly reduced in retina and heart of PGC-1␣ Ϫ/Ϫ animals, suggesting that PGC-1␣ is required for proper expression of PV in multiple tissues. Together these findings indicate that PGC-1␣ is a novel regulator of interneuron gene expression and function and a potential therapeutic target for neurological disorders associated with interneuron dysfunction.

Adult neurogenesis is the multistage process of generating neurons from adult neural stem cells. Accumulating evidence indicates that GABAergic depolarization is an important regulator of this process. Here, we examined GABAergic signaling to newly generated granule cells (GCs) of the adult mouse dentate gyrus. We show that the first synaptic currents in newborn GCs are generated by activation of GABA A receptors by GABA with a spatiotemporal profile suggestive of transmitter spillover. However, the GABAergic response is not attributable to spillover from surrounding perisomatic synapses. Rather, our results suggest that slow synaptic responses in newborn GCs are generated by dedicated inputs that produce a relatively low concentration of GABA at postsynaptic receptors, similar to slow IPSCs in mature GCs. This form of synaptic signaling drives robust phasic depolarization of newborn GCs when the interneuron network is synchronously active, revealing a potential mechanism that translates hippocampal activity into regulation of adult neurogenesis via synaptic release of GABA.

Depolarization by the neurotransmitter GABA regulates adult neurogenesis. Here we show that interneurons of the neurogliaform cell family are a primary source of GABA for newborn neurons in mouse dentate gyrus. GABAergic depolarization occurs in concert with reduced synaptic inhibition of mature neurons, suggesting the local circuitry facilitates coordinated activation of new and pre-existing cells.

Sparse neural activity in the dentate gyrus is enforced by powerful networks of inhibitory GABAergic interneurons in combination with low intrinsic excitability of the principal neurons, the dentate granule cells (GCs). Although the cellular and circuit properties that dictate synaptic inhibition are well studied, less is known about mechanisms that confer low GC intrinsic excitability. Here we demonstrate that intact G protein-mediated signaling contributes to the characteristic low resting membrane potential that differentiates mature dentate GCs from CA1 pyramidal cells and developing adult-born GCs. In mature GCs from male and female mice, intact G protein signaling robustly reduces intrinsic excitability, whereas deletion of G protein-activated inwardly rectifying potassium channel 2 (GIRK2) increases excitability and blocks the effects of G protein signaling on intrinsic properties. Similarly, pharmacological manipulation of GABA receptors (GABARs) or GIRK channels alters intrinsic excitability and GC spiking behavior. However, adult-born new GCs lack functional GIRK activity, with phasic and constitutive GABAR-mediated GIRK signaling appearing after several weeks of maturation. Phasic activation is interneuron specific, arising primarily from nNOS-expressing interneurons rather than parvalbumin- or somatostatin-expressing interneurons. Together, these results demonstrate that G protein signaling contributes to the intrinsic excitability that differentiates mature and developing dentate GCs and further suggest that late maturation of GIRK channel activity is poised to convert early developmental functions of GABA receptor signaling into GABAR-mediated inhibition. The dentate gyrus exhibits sparse neural activity that is essential for the computational function of pattern separation. Sparse activity is ascribed to strong local inhibitory circuits in combination with low intrinsic excitability of the principal neurons, the granule cells. Here we show that constitutive activity of G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channels (GIRKs) underlies to the hallmark low resting membrane potential and input resistance of mature dentate neurons. Adult-born neurons initially lack functional GIRK channels, with constitutive and phasic GABA receptor-mediated GIRK inhibition developing in tandem after several weeks of maturation. Our results reveal that GABA/GIRK activity is an important determinant of low excitability of mature dentate granule cells that may contribute to sparse DG activity .