Spread of dendritic excitation in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons in rat barrel cortex in vivo

Svoboda, K., Helmchen, F., Denk, W., Tank, D. W. (January 1999) Spread of dendritic excitation in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons in rat barrel cortex in vivo. Nature Neuroscience, 2 (1). pp. 65-73. ISSN 1097-6256 (Print)

URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10195182
DOI: 10.1038/4569

Abstract

In layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons of barrel cortex in vivo, calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]) transients in apical dendrites evoked by sodium action potentials are limited to regions close to the soma. To study the mechanisms underlying this restricted pattern of calcium influx, we combined two-photon imaging of dendritic [Ca2+] dynamics with dendritic membrane potential measurements. We found that sodium action potentials attenuated and broadened rapidly with distance from the soma. However, dendrites of layer 2/3 cells were electrically excitable, and direct current injections could evoke large [Ca2+] transients. The restricted pattern of dendritic [Ca2+] transients is therefore due to a failure of sodium action-potential propagation into dendrites. Also, stimulating subcortical activating systems by tail pinch can enhance dendritic [Ca2+] influx induced by a sensory stimulus by increasing cellular excitability, consistent with the importance of these systems in plasticity and learning.

Item Type: Paper
Uncontrolled Keywords: Action Potentials/physiology Animals Calcium/metabolism Dendrites/metabolism/ physiology Electric Stimulation Membrane Potentials/physiology Microscopy, Confocal Osmolar Concentration Pain/metabolism/physiopathology Photons Physical Stimulation Pyramidal Cells/metabolism/ physiology Rats Rats, Inbred F344 Rats, Sprague-Dawley Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Sodium/physiology Somatosensory Cortex/ physiology Vibrissae/ physiology
Subjects: Investigative techniques and equipment
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > tissues types and functions > barrel cortex
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons > pyramidal neurons
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons > pyramidal neurons
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons > pyramidal neurons
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > sub-cellular tissues: types and functions
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs > Svoboda lab
Depositing User: Kathleen Darby
Date: January 1999
Date Deposited: 30 Apr 2014 14:41
Last Modified: 30 Apr 2014 14:41
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/29807

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