Neuronal activity of the septum transplanted into the neocortical barrel field of the rat

Embryonic (E16–17) septal solid grafts were transplanted into acute cavities in the barrel field of somatosensory neocortex of adult rats. Extracellular recording of the graft's neuronal activity was performed in lightly anesthetized rats, or in brain slices in vitro 8–10 months after grafting. Analysis of Nissl and Golgi-Cox stained preparations showed that 81% of the grafts survived. Judging by combined histological and electrophysiological criteria, 69% of surviving grafts were integrated with the host brain. All septal grafts contained neurons with high spontaneous activity (mean 14.9 ± 8.3 spikes · s ⁻¹). Irregular bursts or rhythmic theta-bursts were present in background activity. The frequency of theta-bursts varied in parallel with the state of the animal from 3 Hz (deep barbiturate sleep) up to 7–8 Hz (arousal). Somatosensory stimulation evoked initial bursts or suppression of activity, often followed by a period of rhythmic theta-bursts. Though a high level of convergence for stimulation of vibrissae and body surface was typical of the grafted neurons, a certain spatial gradient of body representation was present. Many neurons responded also by initial burst or prolonged suppression of activity to electrical stimulation of thalamus and homolateral motor cortex. In the frontal slices of neocortex the neurons of septal grafts were highly reactive to stimulation of adjacent neocortex, but usually when the distance between the stimulating electrodes and the graft border did not exceed 1–1.5 mm. The data obtained in the septal slices are compared to the results described earlier in homotopic neocortical and heterotopic hippocampal grafts to the barrel field. It is concluded that heterotopic embryonic septal grafts can successfully develop and establish functional afferent connections with the host brain. Their neurons can participate in processing of sensory information, appropriate to the substituted cortical area, though the characteristics of responses are to a great extent determined by intrinsic properties of the septal neurons.