One way to assess a neuron's function is to describe all its inputs and outputs. With this goal in mind, we used serial section electron microscopy to map 899 synaptic inputs and 623 outputs in one inhibitory interneuron in a large volume of the mouse visual thalamus. This neuron innervated 256 thalamocortical cells spread across functionally distinct subregions of the visual thalamus. All but one of its neurites were bifunctional, innervating thalamocortical and local interneurons while also receiving synapses from the retina. We observed a wide variety of local synaptic motifs. While this neuron innervated many cells weakly, with single en passant synapses, it also deployed specialized branches that climbed along other dendrites to form strong multi-synaptic connections with a subset of partners. This neuron's diverse range of synaptic relationships allows it to participate in a mix of global and local processing but defies assigning it a single circuit function.

中文翻译：

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单个中间神经元参与多种抑制作用，并支配大部分小鼠视觉丘脑。

评估神经元功能的一种方法是描述其所有输入和输出。考虑到这一目标，我们使用连续切片电子显微镜在大量小鼠视觉丘脑的一个抑制性中间神经元中绘制了 899 个突触输入和 623 个输出。这个神经元支配着 256 个丘脑皮层细胞，分布在视觉丘脑的不同功能亚区。除了一个神经突之外，所有神经突都是双功能的，支配丘脑皮质和局部中间神经元，同时也接受来自视网膜的突触。我们观察到各种各样的局部突触图案。虽然这个神经元微弱地支配许多细胞，具有单一的过时突触，但它也部署了沿着其他树突爬行的特殊分支，与一部分伙伴形成强大的多突触连接。这个神经元