No abstract

Background:Little is known about the function of activity-induced factors secreted by interneurons. Results: Activity-induced somatostatin expression and secretion reduced dendritic spine density and lowered excitatory synaptic transmission via somatostatin receptor 4 signaling. Conclusion: Somatostatin reduced the density of morphological and functional excitatory synapses. Significance: Somatostatin, an interneuron-derived secreted factor, can function to prevent epileptiform activity by reducing the number of excitatory synapses.