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An Intact Septo-Hippocampal Preparation for Investigating the Mechanisms of Hippocampal Oscillation

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Electrophysiological Recording Techniques

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 54))

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Abstract

The medial septum (MS) is a structure best known for its role in theta rhythm generation in the ­hippocampus. Theta rhythm is a relatively slow brain oscillation of 3–12 Hz that is important for memory formation and synaptic plasticity. Despite that the role of the MS in theta generation has been investigated for more than half a century, very little is known about how MS neurons contribute to this ­phenomenon. In addition, exactly how hippocampal neurons participate in rhythmic activity in the MS remains relatively unexplored. Our poor understanding of theta generation is due in part to the challenging conditions offered by in vivo experimentation. To circumvent these obstacles, this chapter describes how to obtain a complete septo-hippocampal preparation in vitro to investigate theta generation. This method allows the study of theta rhythm with whole-cell and multiple field recordings in combination with precise pharmacology in vitro. We show that the preparation displays rhythmic oscillations in the hippocampus upon activation of the septum and, conversely, exhibits rhythmic activity in the septum following hippocampal stimulation. These results suggest that the septo-hippocampal preparation is a potentially powerful tool to investigate the cellular mechanism implicated in theta generation in vitro.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Romain Goutagny, Jesse Jackson & Sylvain Williams

Authors
  1. Romain Goutagny
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  2. Jesse Jackson
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  3. Sylvain Williams
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sylvain Williams .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ctr. Complex Systems & Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Glades Road 777, Boca Raton, 33431-0991, Florida, USA

    Robert P. Vertes

  2. Ctr. Complex Systems & Brain Sciences, Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Glades Rd. 777, Boca Raton, 33431-0991, Florida, USA

    Robert W. Stackman Jr.

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Goutagny, R., Jackson, J., Williams, S. (2011). An Intact Septo-Hippocampal Preparation for Investigating the Mechanisms of Hippocampal Oscillation. In: Vertes, R., Stackman Jr., R. (eds) Electrophysiological Recording Techniques. Neuromethods, vol 54. Humana, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-202-5_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-202-5_10

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-201-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60327-202-5

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