Ionic mechanisms of endogenous bursting in CA3 hippocampal pyramidal neurons: a model study.

A critical property of some neurons is burst firing, which in the hippocampus plays a primary role in reliable transmission of electrical signals. However, bursting may also contribute to synchronization of electrical activity in networks of neurons, a hallmark of epilepsy. Understanding the ionic m...

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Main Authors: Jun Xu, Colleen E Clancy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2008-04-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2323611?pdf=render
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author Jun Xu
Colleen E Clancy
author_facet Jun Xu
Colleen E Clancy
author_sort Jun Xu
collection DOAJ
description A critical property of some neurons is burst firing, which in the hippocampus plays a primary role in reliable transmission of electrical signals. However, bursting may also contribute to synchronization of electrical activity in networks of neurons, a hallmark of epilepsy. Understanding the ionic mechanisms of bursting in a single neuron, and how mutations associated with epilepsy modify these mechanisms, is an important building block for understanding the emergent network behaviors. We present a single-compartment model of a CA3 hippocampal pyramidal neuron based on recent experimental data. We then use the model to determine the roles of primary depolarizing currents in burst generation. The single compartment model incorporates accurate representations of sodium (Na(+)) channels (Na(V)1.1) and T-type calcium (Ca(2+)) channel subtypes (Ca(V)3.1, Ca(V)3.2, and Ca(V)3.3). Our simulations predict the importance of Na(+) and T-type Ca(2+) channels in hippocampal pyramidal cell bursting and reveal the distinct contribution of each subtype to burst morphology. We also performed fast-slow analysis in a reduced comparable model, which shows that our model burst is generated as a result of the interaction of two slow variables, the T-type Ca(2+) channel activation gate and the Ca(2+)-dependent potassium (K(+)) channel activation gate. The model reproduces a range of experimentally observed phenomena including afterdepolarizing potentials, spike widening at the end of the burst, and rebound. Finally, we use the model to simulate the effects of two epilepsy-linked mutations: R1648H in Na(V)1.1 and C456S in Ca(V)3.2, both of which result in increased cellular excitability.
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spelling doaj.art-faf74862d2094968b919eb3ae88342002022-12-21T18:20:45ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032008-04-0134e205610.1371/journal.pone.0002056Ionic mechanisms of endogenous bursting in CA3 hippocampal pyramidal neurons: a model study.Jun XuColleen E ClancyA critical property of some neurons is burst firing, which in the hippocampus plays a primary role in reliable transmission of electrical signals. However, bursting may also contribute to synchronization of electrical activity in networks of neurons, a hallmark of epilepsy. Understanding the ionic mechanisms of bursting in a single neuron, and how mutations associated with epilepsy modify these mechanisms, is an important building block for understanding the emergent network behaviors. We present a single-compartment model of a CA3 hippocampal pyramidal neuron based on recent experimental data. We then use the model to determine the roles of primary depolarizing currents in burst generation. The single compartment model incorporates accurate representations of sodium (Na(+)) channels (Na(V)1.1) and T-type calcium (Ca(2+)) channel subtypes (Ca(V)3.1, Ca(V)3.2, and Ca(V)3.3). Our simulations predict the importance of Na(+) and T-type Ca(2+) channels in hippocampal pyramidal cell bursting and reveal the distinct contribution of each subtype to burst morphology. We also performed fast-slow analysis in a reduced comparable model, which shows that our model burst is generated as a result of the interaction of two slow variables, the T-type Ca(2+) channel activation gate and the Ca(2+)-dependent potassium (K(+)) channel activation gate. The model reproduces a range of experimentally observed phenomena including afterdepolarizing potentials, spike widening at the end of the burst, and rebound. Finally, we use the model to simulate the effects of two epilepsy-linked mutations: R1648H in Na(V)1.1 and C456S in Ca(V)3.2, both of which result in increased cellular excitability.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2323611?pdf=render
spellingShingle Jun Xu
Colleen E Clancy
Ionic mechanisms of endogenous bursting in CA3 hippocampal pyramidal neurons: a model study.
PLoS ONE
title Ionic mechanisms of endogenous bursting in CA3 hippocampal pyramidal neurons: a model study.
title_full Ionic mechanisms of endogenous bursting in CA3 hippocampal pyramidal neurons: a model study.
title_fullStr Ionic mechanisms of endogenous bursting in CA3 hippocampal pyramidal neurons: a model study.
title_full_unstemmed Ionic mechanisms of endogenous bursting in CA3 hippocampal pyramidal neurons: a model study.
title_short Ionic mechanisms of endogenous bursting in CA3 hippocampal pyramidal neurons: a model study.
title_sort ionic mechanisms of endogenous bursting in ca3 hippocampal pyramidal neurons a model study
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2323611?pdf=render
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AT colleeneclancy ionicmechanismsofendogenousburstinginca3hippocampalpyramidalneuronsamodelstudy