Neuroscience 2001 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 730.14 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Effect of soma shunt on rhythmic activity in a full-morphology compartmental model of a leech heart interneuron. |
| Authors: |
Tobin, A. E.*1
; Van Hooser, S. D.2
; Calabrese, R. L.1
1Dept Biol, Emory Univ, Atlanta, GA 2Dept Biol, Brandeis Univ, Waltham, MA |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Motor Systems - Pattern Generation |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | Motor Systems<br />- Invertebrate Motor and Sensory Systems |
| Session: |
730. Pattern generation Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Wednesday, November 14, 2001 9:00 AM-10:00 AM |
| Location: | Exhibit Hall DD-6 |
| Keywords: | central pattern generator, intracellular recording, oscillator |
Studies in our lab suggest that microelectrode penetration may significantly affect cell activity. The rhythmically active pairs of interneurons that pace the leech heartbeat were thought to require reciprocal inhibition to produce bursting activity. Intracellular recordings demonstrate that blocking synaptic transmission with bicuculline causes tonic spiking, not rhythmic bursting. However, when this experiment is performed with the non-invasive technique of extracellular recording, the cells often maintain rhythmic bursting (Cymbalyuk et al., SFN Abstr 164.2, 2000). This result suggests that microelectrode-induced soma shunt affects cell behavior during synaptic isolation. In a single compartmental model, activity changes from endogenous bursting to tonic spiking when somatic shunt is simulated (Cymbalyuk et al., SFN Abstr 164.2, 2000). Since synaptic transmission, reception and spike-initiating and -propagating currents appear situated in the primary and secondary neuritic processes, and not in the soma, we believe this issue is more accurately explored in a full-morphology model of the cell. We create a multi-compartmental model of a leech heart interneuron, incorporating accurately measured membrane time constant, leak conductance and leak reversal potential. We tune the model to exhibit realistic bursting behavior and experimentally determined spike frequency response to injected current. We explore how changing somatic leak parameters affects whole-cell activity. These findings, demonstrating how soma penetration alters cell activity, serve as a caution to those using invasive techniques to explore cell activity.
Supported by NIH T32 GM08605
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2001 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2001. Online.
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