Neuronal intrinsic properties shape naturally-evoked sensory inputs in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord
Intrinsic electrophysiological properties arising from specific combinations of voltage-gated channels are fundamental for the performance of small neural networks in invertebrates, but their role in large-scale vertebrate circuits remains controversial. Although spinal neurons have complex intrinsi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2013-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncel.2013.00276/full |
| _version_ | 1818550537481617408 |
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| author | Cecilia eReali Raúl Eduardo Russo |
| author_facet | Cecilia eReali Raúl Eduardo Russo |
| author_sort | Cecilia eReali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Intrinsic electrophysiological properties arising from specific combinations of voltage-gated channels are fundamental for the performance of small neural networks in invertebrates, but their role in large-scale vertebrate circuits remains controversial. Although spinal neurons have complex intrinsic properties, some tasks produce high-conductance states that override intrinsic conductances, minimizing their contribution to network function. Because the detection and coding of somato-sensory information at early stages probably involves a relatively small number of neurons, we speculated that intrinsic electrophysiological properties are likely involved in the processing of sensory inputs by dorsal horn neurons (DHN). To test this idea, we took advantage of an integrated spinal cord–hindlimbs preparation from turtles allowing the combination of patch-clamp recordings of DHN embedded in an intact network, with accurate control of the extracellular milieu. We found that plateau potentials and low threshold spikes (LTS) -mediated by L- and T-type Ca2+ channels, respectively- generated complex dynamics by interacting with naturally evoked synaptic potentials. Inhibitory receptive fields could be changed in sign by activation of the LTS. On the other hand, the plateau potential transformed sensory signals in the time domain by generating persistent activity triggered on and off by brief sensory inputs and windup of the response to repetitive sensory stimulation. Our findings suggest that intrinsic properties dynamically shape sensory inputs and thus represent a major building block for sensory processing by DHN. Intrinsic conductances in DHN appear to provide a mechanism for plastic phenomena such as dynamic receptive fields and sensitization to pain. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T08:47:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c4f2116e76754ddd9c837aa2d4af518c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5102 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T08:47:47Z |
| publishDate | 2013-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-c4f2116e76754ddd9c837aa2d4af518c2022-12-22T00:30:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience1662-51022013-12-01710.3389/fncel.2013.0027675054Neuronal intrinsic properties shape naturally-evoked sensory inputs in the dorsal horn of the spinal cordCecilia eReali0Raúl Eduardo Russo1Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente EstableInstituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente EstableIntrinsic electrophysiological properties arising from specific combinations of voltage-gated channels are fundamental for the performance of small neural networks in invertebrates, but their role in large-scale vertebrate circuits remains controversial. Although spinal neurons have complex intrinsic properties, some tasks produce high-conductance states that override intrinsic conductances, minimizing their contribution to network function. Because the detection and coding of somato-sensory information at early stages probably involves a relatively small number of neurons, we speculated that intrinsic electrophysiological properties are likely involved in the processing of sensory inputs by dorsal horn neurons (DHN). To test this idea, we took advantage of an integrated spinal cord–hindlimbs preparation from turtles allowing the combination of patch-clamp recordings of DHN embedded in an intact network, with accurate control of the extracellular milieu. We found that plateau potentials and low threshold spikes (LTS) -mediated by L- and T-type Ca2+ channels, respectively- generated complex dynamics by interacting with naturally evoked synaptic potentials. Inhibitory receptive fields could be changed in sign by activation of the LTS. On the other hand, the plateau potential transformed sensory signals in the time domain by generating persistent activity triggered on and off by brief sensory inputs and windup of the response to repetitive sensory stimulation. Our findings suggest that intrinsic properties dynamically shape sensory inputs and thus represent a major building block for sensory processing by DHN. Intrinsic conductances in DHN appear to provide a mechanism for plastic phenomena such as dynamic receptive fields and sensitization to pain.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncel.2013.00276/fullSpinal Cordsensory information processingplateau potentialslow threshold calcium spikesintrinsic electrophysiological propertiesdorsal horn neurons |
| spellingShingle | Cecilia eReali Raúl Eduardo Russo Neuronal intrinsic properties shape naturally-evoked sensory inputs in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience Spinal Cord sensory information processing plateau potentials low threshold calcium spikes intrinsic electrophysiological properties dorsal horn neurons |
| title | Neuronal intrinsic properties shape naturally-evoked sensory inputs in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord |
| title_full | Neuronal intrinsic properties shape naturally-evoked sensory inputs in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord |
| title_fullStr | Neuronal intrinsic properties shape naturally-evoked sensory inputs in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neuronal intrinsic properties shape naturally-evoked sensory inputs in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord |
| title_short | Neuronal intrinsic properties shape naturally-evoked sensory inputs in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord |
| title_sort | neuronal intrinsic properties shape naturally evoked sensory inputs in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord |
| topic | Spinal Cord sensory information processing plateau potentials low threshold calcium spikes intrinsic electrophysiological properties dorsal horn neurons |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncel.2013.00276/full |
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