Impact of fast sodium channel inactivation on spike threshold dynamics and synaptic integration.

ABSTRACT: Neurons spike when their membrane potential exceeds a threshold value. In central neurons, the spike threshold is not constant but depends on the stimulation. Thus, input-output properties of neurons depend both on the effect of presynaptic spikes on the membrane potential and on the dynamics of the spike threshold. Among the possible mechanisms that may modulate the threshold, one strong candidate is Na channel inactivation, because it specifically impacts spike initiation without affecting the membrane potential. We collected voltage-clamp data from the literature and we found, based on a theoretical criterion, that the properties of Na inactivation could indeed cause substantial threshold variability by itself. By analyzing simple neuron models with fast Na inactivation (one channel sub

SUBMITTER: Platkiewicz J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3088652 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature