Reconstruction of neocortex: Organelles, compartments, cells, circuits, and activity

We assembled a semi-automated reconstruction of L2/3 mouse primary visual cortex from similar to 250 x 140 x 90 mu m(3) of electron microscopic images, including pyramidal and non-pyramidal neurons, astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes and precursors, pericytes, vasculature, nuclei, mitochondria, and synapses. Visual responses of a subset of pyramidal cells are included. The data are publicly available, along with tools for programmatic and three-dimensional interactive access. Brief vignettes illustrate the breadth of potential applications relating structure to function in cortical circuits and neuronal cell biology. Mitochondria and synapse organization are characterized as a function of path length from the soma. Pyramidal connectivity motif frequencies are predicted accurately using a configuration model of random graphs. Pyramidal cells receiving more connections from nearby cells exhibit stronger and more reliable visual responses. Sample code shows data access and analysis.

Automated summary

This article describes a model reconstructed from electron microscopic images of mouse primary visual cortex, and investigates the relationship between cell organization and function. The study suggests that the connectivity pattern of pyramidal cells is associated with their visual response strength and reliability.