Development of striatal fast-spiking GABAergic interneurons

Fast-spiking GABAergic interneurons represent a very small portion of striatal neurons, yet they play a critical role in modulating cortical input and mediating inhibition of striatal medium-sized spiny projection neurons. Considering their pivotal role in the adult striatum, it is of importance to determine when during development these neurons acquire their characteristic properties and function. In this review we describe recent work from our laboratories indicating that fast-spiking GABAergic interneurons are under stronger cortical control than efferent neurons at postnatal day 12 but mature considerably between postnatal days 12-19 in the rat striatum. During this time period, their molecular development is under the control of GABAergic and cholinergic mechanisms. Thus, fast-spiking interneurons are poised to influence striatal function and perhaps development during the postnatal period in rats, and their properties could be influenced by commonly used pharmacological agents during a protracted developmental window. These findings point to the need for future research to better understand the functional maturation of this critical population of striatal GABAergic neurons, and the consequences of abnormal maturation of these cells.