Fast-spiking, parvalbumin + GABAergic interneurons: From cellular design to microcircuit function

Background Neuronal networks in the brain include glutamatergic principal neurons and GABAergic interneurons (GABA, γ-aminobutyric acid). The latter may be a minority cell type, but they are vital for normal brain function because they regulate the activity of principal neurons. If interneuron function is impaired, higher brain function can be damaged and seizures may result. The fast-spiking, parvalbumin-positive interneurons (PV + interneurons) are readily characterized and, consequently, have been adopted as a research model for systematic and quantitative investigations. These cells contribute to feedback and feedforward inhibition and are critically involved in the generation of network oscillations. They…