Basket Neurons and Stellate Neurons

Are cerebellar basket and stellate neurons actually different cell types?

Yes, cerebellar basket and stellate neurons are two distinct cell types found in the cerebellum. The cerebellum is a region of the brain known for its role in motor coordination and control.

Basket neurons, also known as Purkinje basket cells, are inhibitory interneurons located in the molecular layer of the cerebellar cortex. They receive inputs from various sources, including parallel fibers, and form synapses onto the dendrites and soma of Purkinje cells, the primary output neurons of the cerebellar cortex. Basket cells play a crucial role in modulating the activity of Purkinje cells and regulating the output signals of the cerebellum.

Stellate neurons, on the other hand, are another type of inhibitory interneuron found in the cerebellar cortex. They are located in the granular cell layer and have a distinct star-shaped morphology, giving them their name. Stellate cells receive inputs from mossy fibers, which originate from different brain regions outside the cerebellum, and make inhibitory synapses onto the dendrites of granule cells, which are the most abundant excitatory neurons in the cerebellum. Stellate neurons contribute to the regulation of information flow within the cerebellar circuitry.

Although both basket and stellate neurons are inhibitory interneurons and play important roles in cerebellar function, they differ in their anatomical location, synaptic connections, and the types of neurons they target. These differences suggest that basket and stellate neurons represent distinct cell types within the cerebellum.

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