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Published on: November 11, 2016
HCN hyperpolarization-activated cation channels inhibit EPSPs by interactions with M-type K(+) channels
Meena S George1, L F Abbott, Steven A Siegelbaum
1Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
Abstract:
The processing of synaptic potentials by neuronal dendrites depends on both their passive cable properties and active voltage-gated channels, which can generate complex effects as a result of their nonlinear properties. We characterized the actions of HCN (hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated cation) channels on dendritic processing of subthreshold excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in mouse CA1 hippocampal neurons. The HCN channels generated an excitatory inward current (I(h)) that exerted a direct depolarizing effect on the peak voltage of weak EPSPs, but produced a paradoxical hyperpolarizing effect on the peak voltage of stronger, but still subthreshold, EPSPs. Using a combined modeling and experimental approach, we found that the inhibitory action of I(h) was caused by its interaction with the delayed-rectifier M-type K(+) current. In this manner, I(h) can enhance spike firing in response to an EPSP when spike threshold is low and can inhibit firing when spike threshold is high.
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