Abstract
Parvalbumin-positive (Pvalb(+)) and somatostatin-positive (Sst(+)) cells are the two largest subgroups of inhibitory interneurons. Studies in visual cortex indicate that synaptic connections between Pvalb(+) cells are common while connections between Sst(+) interneurons have not been observed. The inhibitory connectivity and kinetics of these two interneuron subpopulations, however, have not been characterized in medial entorhinal cortex (mEC). Using fluorescence-guided paired recordings in mouse brain slices from interneurons and excitatory cells in layer 2/3 mEC, we found that, unlike neocortical measures, Sst(+) cells inhibit each other, albeit with a lower probability than Pvalb(+) cells (18% vs 36% for unidirectional connections). Gap junction connections were also more frequent between Pvalb(+) cells than between Sst(+) cells. Pvalb(+) cells inhibited each other with larger conductances, smaller decay time constants, and shorter delays. Similarly, synaptic connections between Pvalb(+) and excitatory cells were more likely and expressed faster decay times and shorter delays than those between Sst(+) and excitatory cells. Inhibitory cells exhibited smaller synaptic decay time constants between interneurons than on their excitatory targets. Inhibition between interneurons also depressed faster, and to a greater extent. Finally, inhibition onto layer 2 pyramidal and stellate cells originating from Pvalb(+) interneurons were very similar, with no significant differences in connection likelihood, inhibitory amplitude, and decay time. A model of short-term depression fitted to the data indicates that recovery time constants for refilling the available pool are in the range of 50-150 ms and that the fraction of the available pool released on each spike is in the range 0.2-0.5.