Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Two transient potassium currents in layer V pyramidal neurones from cat sensorimotor cortex.

W J Spain1, P C Schwindt, W E Crill

  • 1Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195.

The Journal of Physiology
|March 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

This study identified two distinct transient outward potassium currents in cat Betz cells, crucial for action potential repolarization. These currents, differing in decay and pharmacological properties, highlight the complexity of neuronal excitability.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Contributions of Kv7-mediated potassium current to sub- and suprathreshold responses of rat layer II/III neocortical pyramidal neurons.

Journal of neurophysiology·2011
Same author

Retinal influences induce bidirectional changes in the kinetics of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated responses in striate cortex cells during postnatal development.

Neuroscience·2007
Same author

Functional roles of Kv1 channels in neocortical pyramidal neurons.

Journal of neurophysiology·2007
Same author

Effects of flunarizine on spontaneous synaptic currents in rat neocortex.

Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology·2004
Same author

Serotonergic modulation of supragranular neurons in rat sensorimotor cortex.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2002
Same author

Initiation and propagation of regenerative Ca(2+)-dependent potentials in dendrites of layer 5 pyramidal neurons.

Journal of neurophysiology·2001

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Electrophysiology
  • Computational Neuroscience

Background:

  • Large pyramidal neurons in layer V of the cat sensorimotor cortex, known as Betz cells, play a critical role in motor control.
  • Understanding the ionic mechanisms underlying action potential generation and repolarization in these neurons is essential for comprehending cortical function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize transient outward currents in cat Betz cells.
  • To investigate the contribution of these currents to action potential repolarization.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an in vitro brain slice preparation of cat sensorimotor cortex.
  • Employed single-microelectrode voltage clamp techniques to isolate and measure ionic currents.
  • Applied pharmacological agents (Tetraethylammonium, 4-Aminopyridine) and altered extracellular potassium concentrations to differentiate currents.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Stimulated neurons with constant current and voltage steps to assess current properties and neuronal responses.

    • Main Results:

    • Identified two distinct transient outward potassium currents: a fast-decaying current (τ < 20 ms) and a slow-decaying current (τ > 10 s).
    • Pharmacological profiles revealed differential sensitivity to Tetraethylammonium and 4-Aminopyridine, aiding in their distinction.
    • Both currents were voltage-dependent in their activation and inactivation, with overlapping properties suggesting a 'window current' near action potential threshold.
    • Selective reduction of either transient current significantly slowed action potential repolarization, indicating their crucial role.

    Conclusions:

    • Betz cells possess at least two distinct transient potassium currents, contributing significantly to action potential repolarization.
    • These findings expand the understanding of voltage-gated potassium channel diversity and their functional roles in cortical neurons.
    • The identified currents are key determinants of neuronal excitability and firing patterns in motor cortex Betz cells.