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Patch-clamp Capacitance Measurements and Ca2+ Imaging at Single Nerve Terminals in Retinal Slices
Published on: January 19, 2012
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Daily oscillations of neuronal membrane capacitance
Daniel Severin1, Cristián Moreno1, Trinh Tran1
1Johns Hopkins Zanvyl Krieger Mind/Brain Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Rm. 350 Dunning Hall, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
Cell Reports
|September 19, 2024
Summary
Neuronal membrane capacitance, previously thought stable, fluctuates daily in excitatory neurons. This daily change in capacitance impacts synaptic integration time windows in pyramidal cells.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Neuronal membrane capacitance influences key electrical properties like synaptic integration and action potential propagation.
- It is generally considered a stable, non-regulated cellular parameter, with changes typically linked to slow developmental processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether neuronal membrane capacitance exhibits dynamic changes within a daily cycle.
- To determine if these changes differ between excitatory and inhibitory neuronal types.
Main Methods:
- Electrophysiological recordings were performed on mouse primary visual cortex pyramidal cells and hippocampal granule cells.
- Capacitance measurements were taken at different time points across a daily light-dark cycle.
- Cortical parvalbumin-expressing inhibitory interneurons were also studied for comparison.
Main Results:
- Excitatory neurons (pyramidal and granule cells) showed significant, nearly 2-fold daily fluctuations in membrane capacitance.
- These capacitance changes were not observed in inhibitory parvalbumin-expressing interneurons.
- The time window for synaptic integration in pyramidal cells varied in correlation with capacitance fluctuations.
Conclusions:
- Neuronal membrane capacitance is dynamically regulated on a daily timescale in specific excitatory neuronal populations.
- This daily rhythm in capacitance may play a role in modulating neuronal excitability and synaptic integration.
- Inhibitory interneurons appear to maintain a more stable membrane capacitance throughout the daily cycle.
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