Martinotti cell explained

Martinotti cells are small multipolar neurons with short branching dendrites. They are scattered throughout various layers of the cerebral cortex, sending their axons up to the cortical layer I where they form axonal arborization. The arbors transgress multiple columns in layer VI and make contacts with the distal tuft dendrites of pyramidal cells.^[1] Martinotti cells express somatostatin and sometimes calbindin, but not parvalbumin or vasoactive intestinal peptide.^[2] Furthermore, Martinotti cells in layer V have been shown to express the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α2 subunit (Chrna2).^[3]

Martinotti cells are associated with a cortical dampening mechanism.^[4] When the pyramidal neuron, which is the most common type of neuron in the cortex, starts getting overexcited, Martinotti cells start sending inhibitory signals to the surrounding neurons. ^[5]

Historically, the discovery of Martinotti cells has been mistakenly attributed to Giovanni Martinotti 1888, although it is now accepted that they were actually discovered in 1889 by Carlo Martinotti (1859–1908), a student of Camillo Golgi.^[6]

External links

News, press releases

• Rare cell prevents rampant brain activity - on the discovery of potential dampening influence of Martinotti cells.
• NIF Search - Martinotti Cell via the Neuroscience Information Framework

See also

List of distinct cell types in the adult human body

Notes and References

1. Wang Y, Toledo-Rodriguez M, Gupta A, etal . Anatomical, physiological and molecular properties of Martinotti cells in the somatosensory cortex of the juvenile rat . J. Physiol. . 561 . Pt 1 . 65–90 . November 2004 . 15331670 . 1665344 . 10.1113/jphysiol.2004.073353 .
2. Sugino K, Hempel CM, Miller MN, etal . Molecular taxonomy of major neuronal classes in the adult mouse forebrain . . 9 . 1 . 99–107 . January 2006 . 16369481 . 10.1038/nn1618. 27815855 .
3. Hilscher. Markus M.. Leão. Richardson N.. Edwards. Steven J.. Leão. Katarina E.. Kullander. Klas. 2017-02-09. Chrna2-Martinotti Cells Synchronize Layer 5 Type A Pyramidal Cells via Rebound Excitation. PLOS Biology. 15. 2. e2001392. 10.1371/journal.pbio.2001392. 1545-7885. 5300109. 28182735 . free .
4. Riedemann . T . Diversity and Function of Somatostatin-Expressing Interneurons in the Cerebral Cortex. . International Journal of Molecular Sciences . 17 June 2019 . 20 . 12 . 2952 . 10.3390/ijms20122952 . 31212931. 6627222 . free .
5. Silberberg G, Markram H . Disynaptic inhibition between neocortical pyramidal cells mediated by Martinotti cells . Neuron . 53 . 5 . 735–46 . March 2007 . 17329212 . 10.1016/j.neuron.2007.02.012 . 15624023 . free .
6. Martinotti C . Contributo allo studio della corteccia cerebrale, ed all'origine centrale dei nervi . Ann. Freniatr. Sci. Affini. . 1 . 14–381 . 1889.