Plasticity manifolds and degeneracy govern circadian oscillations of neuronal intrinsic properties in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

ABSTRACT: A heterogeneous neuronal population in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) sustains a cell-autonomous code for circadian time, implemented by firing-rate plasticity involving multiple ion channels. How do SCN neurons undergo stable firing-rate transitions if several ion channels change simultaneously in a heterogeneous neuronal population? Here, we addressed this question by building a heterogeneous population of SCN model neurons, each allowed to undergo one complete circadian cycle through multiple possible routes. We found that SCN neurons could achieve signature electrophysiological characteristics (day-like or night-like) despite pronounced heterogeneity in ion-channel conductances. Furthermore, for any neuron, disparate combinations of ion-channel plasticity yielded valid day-to-night

SUBMITTER: Nagaraj H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10139998 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature