
Viral vectors can selectively and efficiently target GABAergic and parvalbumin-expressing inhibitory neurons in the primate visual cortex, enabling the study of their connectivity and function.


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In the mammalian neocortex, inhibition is important for dynamically balancing excitation and shaping the response properties of cells and circuits. The various functions of inhibition are thought to be mediated by different inhibitory neuron types of which a large diversity exists in several species. Current understanding of the function and connectivity of distinct inhibitory neuron types has mainly derived from studies in transgenic mice. However, it is unknown whether knowledge gained from mouse studies applies to the primate, the model system closest to humans. The lack of viral tools to selectively access inhibitory neuron types has been a major impediment to studying their function in the primate. Here, we have thoroughly validated and characterized several recently-developed viral vectors designed to restrict transgene expression to GABAergic cells or their parvalbumin (PV) subtype, and identified two types that show high specificity and efficiency in marmoset V1. We show that in marmoset V1 AAV-h56D induces transgene expression in GABAergic cells with up to 91-94% specificity and 80% efficiency, depending on viral serotype and cortical layer. AAV-PHP.eB-S5E2 induces transgene expression in PV cells across all cortical layers with up to 98% specificity and 86-90% efficiency. Thus, these viral vectors represent promising tools for studying GABA and PV cell function and connectivity in the primate cortex.

### Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Laminar specificity and coverage of viral-mediated gene expression restricted to GABAergic interneurons and their parvalbumin subclass in marmoset primary visual cortex

viral-mediated-gene-expression-restricted-to-gabaergic-interneurons-and-parvalbumin-subclass-in-marmoset-primary-visual-cortex


Viral-Mediated Gene Expression Restricted to GABAergic Interneurons and Parvalbumin Subclass in Marmoset Primary Visual Cortex
