Perforant path

In the brain, the perforant path or perforant pathway provides a connectional route from the entorhinal cortex[1] to all fields of the hippocampal formation, including the dentate gyrus, all CA fields (including CA1),[2] and the subiculum.

Perforant path
Diagram of hippocampal regions. DG: Dentate gyrus. Perforant path not labeled, but would arise from the right.
Details
Identifiers
LatinTractus perforans
MeSHD019580
NeuroNames2686
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

Though it arises mainly from entorhinal layers II and III, the perforant path comprises a smaller component that originates in deep layers V and VI. There is a major dichotomy with respect to the laminar origin and related terminal distribution: neurons in layer II (and possibly layer VI) project to the dentate gyrus and CA3, whereas layer III (and possibly layer V) cells project to CA1 and the subiculum via the temporoammonic pathway.[1]

In addition to playing a role in spatial memory learning generally, the temporoammonic branch (TA-CA1) of the perforant path mediates spatial memory consolidation.[3] The temporoammonic pathway has also been implicated in stress-based animal models of depression.[4]

It may also play a role in temporal lobe seizures.[5]

In rats

In rats, pyramidal and stellate cells in layer II of entorhinal cortex project through the subiculum of the hippocampus, giving rise to the name "perforant pathway". These glutamatergic fibers form a laminar pattern and terminate in the dentate gyrus and cornu ammonis 3 (CA3) region of the hippocampus. Fibers arising in the lateral portions of the entorhinal cortex show enkephalin immunoreactivity, whereas medial portions appear to contain cholecystokinin. Additionally, pyramidal cells in layer III of the entorhinal cortex send topographic projections along the perforant pathway which branch into the subiculum and CA1.[6]

In mice

In mice, the projection to CA1, and the subiculum all come primarily from EC layer III.

According to Suh et al. (2011 Science 334:1415) the projection to CA3 and dentate gyrus in mice is primarily from layer II of entorhinal cortex, and forms a trisynaptic path with hippocampus (dentate gyrus to CA3 to CA1), distinguished from the direct (monosynaptic) perforant path from Layer III of entorhinal cortex to CA1 and subiculum.

References
  1. Witter, Menno P.; Naber, Pieterke A.; Van Haeften, Theo; Machielsen, Willem C.M.; Rombouts, Serge A.R.B.; Barkhof, Frederik; Scheltens, Philip; Lopes Da Silva, Fernando H. (2000). "Cortico-hippocampal communication by way of parallel parahippocampal-subicular pathways". Hippocampus. 10 (4): 398–410. doi:10.1002/1098-1063(2000)10:4<398::AID-HIPO6>3.0.CO;2-K. PMID 10985279.
  2. Vago, David R.; Kesner, Raymond P. (2008). "Disruption of the direct perforant path input to the CA1 subregion of the dorsal hippocampus interferes with spatial working memory and novelty detection". Behavioural Brain Research. 189 (2): 273–83. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2008.01.002. PMC 2421012. PMID 18313770.
  3. Remondes, Miguel; Schuman, Erin M. (2004). "Role for a cortical input to hippocampal area CA1 in the consolidation of a long-term memory" (PDF). Nature. 431 (7009): 699–703. Bibcode:2004Natur.431..699R. doi:10.1038/nature02965. PMID 15470431.
  4. Kallarackal, A. J.; Kvarta, M. D.; Cammarata, E.; Jaberi, L.; Cai, X.; Bailey, A. M.; Thompson, S. M. (2013). "Chronic Stress Induces a Selective Decrease in AMPA Receptor-Mediated Synaptic Excitation at Hippocampal Temporoammonic-CA1 Synapses". Journal of Neuroscience. 33 (40): 15669–74. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2588-13.2013. PMC 3787493. PMID 24089474.
  5. Scimemi, A.; Schorge, S; Kullmann, D. M.; Walker, M. C. (2005). "Epileptogenesis is Associated with Enhanced Glutamatergic Transmission in the Perforant Path". Journal of Neurophysiology. 95 (2): 1213–20. doi:10.1152/jn.00680.2005. PMID 16282203.
  6. Steward, O; Scoville, SA (1 October 1976). "Cells of origin of entorhinal cortical afferents to the hippocampus and fascia dentata of the rat". The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 169 (3): 347–70. doi:10.1002/cne.901690306. PMID 972204.
  • Shepherd, GM. The Synaptic Organization of the Brain. New York: Oxford University Press. 1998.
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