Role of Dendritic Spines in Action Potential Backpropagation: A Numerical Simulation Study

2002 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 2834-2845 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Tsay ◽  
Rafael Yuste
Keyword(s):  
Action Potential ◽  
Sodium Channels ◽  
Dendritic Spines ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Excitatory Input ◽  
Spine Morphology ◽  
Dendritic Shaft ◽  
Apical Dendrites ◽  
Channel Properties

Two remarkable aspects of pyramidal neurons are their complex dendritic morphologies and the abundant presence of spines, small structures that are the sites of excitatory input. Although the channel properties of the dendritic shaft membrane have been experimentally probed, the influence of spine properties in dendritic signaling and action potential propagation remains unclear. To explore this we have performed multi-compartmental numerical simulations investigating the degree of consistency between experimental data on dendritic channel densities and backpropagation behavior, as well as the necessity and degree of influence of excitable spines. Our results indicate that measured densities of Na+ channels in dendritic shafts cannot support effective backpropagation observed in apical dendrites due to suprathreshold inactivation. We demonstrate as a potential solution that Na+ channels in spines at higher densities than those measured in the dendritic shaft can support extensive backpropagation. In addition, clustering of Na+ channels in spines appears to enhance their effect due to their unique morphology. Finally, we show that changes in spine morphology significantly influence backpropagation efficacy. These results suggest that, by clustering sodium channels, spines may serve to control backpropagation.

scholarly journals Site Independence of EPSP Time Course Is Mediated by DendriticI h in Neocortical Pyramidal Neurons

2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 3177-3182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen R. Williams ◽  
Greg J. Stuart
Keyword(s):  
Sodium Channels ◽  
Temporal Summation ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Apical Dendrite ◽  
Linear Increase ◽  
Nonuniform Distribution ◽  
Excitatory Synaptic Input ◽  
Pharmacological Blockade ◽  
Apical Dendrites

Neocortical layer 5 pyramidal neurons possess long apical dendrites that receive a significant portion of the neurons excitatory synaptic input. Passive neuronal models indicate that the time course of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) generated in the apical dendrite will be prolonged as they propagate toward the soma. EPSP propagation may, however, be influenced by the recruitment of dendritic voltage-activated channels. Here we investigate the properties and distribution of I h channels in the axon, soma, and apical dendrites of neocortical layer 5 pyramidal neurons, and their effect on EPSP time course. We find a linear increase (9 pA/100 μm) in the density of dendritic I hchannels with distance from soma. This nonuniform distribution of I h channels generates site independence of EPSP time course, such that the half-width at the soma of distally generated EPSPs (up to 435 μm from soma) was similar to somatically generated EPSPs. As a corollary, a normalization of temporal summation of EPSPs was observed. The site independence of somatic EPSP time course was found to collapse after pharmacological blockade of I h channels, revealing pronounced temporal summation of distally generated EPSPs, which could be further enhanced by TTX-sensitive sodium channels. These data indicate that an increasing density of apical dendritic I hchannels mitigates the influence of cable filtering on somatic EPSP time course and temporal summation in neocortical layer 5 pyramidal neurons.

scholarly journals Evidence of calcium-permeable AMPA receptors in dendritic spines of CA1 pyramidal neurons

2014 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayley A. Mattison ◽  
Ashish A. Bagal ◽  
Michael Mohammadi ◽  
Nisha S. Pulimood ◽  
Christian G. Reich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Spines ◽  
Ampa Receptors ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Calcium Influx ◽  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Stratum Radiatum ◽  
Acute Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Cultured Slices ◽  
Apical Dendrites

GluA2-lacking, calcium-permeable α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate receptors (AMPARs) have unique properties, but their presence at excitatory synapses in pyramidal cells is controversial. We have tested certain predictions of the model that such receptors are present in CA1 cells and show here that the polyamine spermine, but not philanthotoxin, causes use-dependent inhibition of synaptically evoked excitatory responses in stratum radiatum, but not s. oriens, in cultured and acute hippocampal slices. Stimulation of single dendritic spines by photolytic release of caged glutamate induced an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor-independent, use- and spermine-sensitive calcium influx only at apical spines in cultured slices. Bath application of glutamate also triggered a spermine-sensitive influx of cobalt into CA1 cell dendrites in s. radiatum. Responses of single apical, but not basal, spines to photostimulation displayed prominent paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) consistent with use-dependent relief of cytoplasmic polyamine block. Responses at apical dendrites were diminished, and PPF was increased, by spermine. Intracellular application of pep2m, which inhibits recycling of GluA2-containing AMPARs, reduced apical spine responses and increased PPF. We conclude that some calcium-permeable, polyamine-sensitive AMPARs, perhaps lacking GluA2 subunits, are present at synapses on apical dendrites of CA1 pyramidal cells, which may allow distinct forms of synaptic plasticity and computation at different sets of excitatory inputs.

scholarly journals Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Neurons ofMecp2Mutant Mice Show a Dendritic Spine Phenotype Only in the Presymptomatic Stage

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher A. Chapleau ◽  
Elena Maria Boggio ◽  
Gaston Calfa ◽  
Alan K. Percy ◽  
Maurizio Giustetto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Spines ◽  
Dendritic Spine ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Mutant Mice ◽  
Spine Density ◽  
Ca1 Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Dendritic Spine Density ◽  
Presymptomatic Stage ◽  
Deficient Mice

Alterations in dendritic spines have been documented in numerous neurodevelopmental disorders, including Rett Syndrome (RTT). RTT, an X chromosome-linked disorder associated with mutations inMECP2, is the leading cause of intellectual disabilities in women. Neurons inMecp2-deficient mice show lower dendritic spine density in several brain regions. To better understand the role of MeCP2 on excitatory spine synapses, we analyzed dendritic spines of CA1 pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus ofMecp2tm1.1Jaemale mutant mice by either confocal microscopy or electron microscopy (EM). At postnatal-day 7 (P7), well before the onset of RTT-like symptoms, CA1 pyramidal neurons from mutant mice showed lower dendritic spine density than those from wildtype littermates. On the other hand, at P15 or later showing characteristic RTT-like symptoms, dendritic spine density did not differ between mutant and wildtype neurons. Consistently, stereological analyses at the EM level revealed similar densities of asymmetric spine synapses in CA1stratum radiatumof symptomatic mutant and wildtype littermates. These results raise caution regarding the use of dendritic spine density in hippocampal neurons as a phenotypic endpoint for the evaluation of therapeutic interventions in symptomaticMecp2-deficient mice. However, they underscore the potential role of MeCP2 in the maintenance of excitatory spine synapses.

scholarly journals Conditional deletion of ROCK2 induces anxiety-like behaviors and alters dendritic spine density and morphology on CA1 pyramidal neurons

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Audrey J. Weber ◽  
Ashley B. Adamson ◽  
Kelsey M. Greathouse ◽  
Julia P. Andrade ◽  
Cameron D. Freeman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Spine ◽  
Basolateral Amygdala ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Spine Density ◽  
Control Of Gene Expression ◽  
Spine Morphology ◽  
Dendritic Spine Morphology ◽  
Morphometry Analysis ◽  
Apical Dendrites

AbstractRho-associated kinase isoform 2 (ROCK2) is an attractive drug target for several neurologic disorders. A critical barrier to ROCK2-based research and therapeutics is the lack of a mouse model that enables investigation of ROCK2 with spatial and temporal control of gene expression. To overcome this, we generated ROCK2fl/fl mice. Mice expressing Cre recombinase in forebrain excitatory neurons (CaMKII-Cre) were crossed with ROCK2fl/fl mice (Cre/ROCK2fl/fl), and the contribution of ROCK2 in behavior as well as dendritic spine morphology in the hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and basolateral amygdala (BLA) was examined. Cre/ROCK2fl/fl mice spent reduced time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze and increased time in the dark of the light–dark box test compared to littermate controls. These results indicated that Cre/ROCK2fl/fl mice exhibited anxiety-like behaviors. To examine dendritic spine morphology, individual pyramidal neurons in CA1 hippocampus, mPFC, and the BLA were targeted for iontophoretic microinjection of fluorescent dye, followed by high-resolution confocal microscopy and neuronal 3D reconstructions for morphometry analysis. In dorsal CA1, Cre/ROCK2fl/fl mice displayed significantly increased thin spine density on basal dendrites and reduced mean spine head volume across all spine types on apical dendrites. In ventral CA1, Cre/ROCK2fl/fl mice exhibited significantly increased spine length on apical dendrites. Spine density and morphology were comparable in the mPFC and BLA between both genotypes. These findings suggest that neuronal ROCK2 mediates spine density and morphology in a compartmentalized manner among CA1 pyramidal cells, and that in the absence of ROCK2 these mechanisms may contribute to anxiety-like behaviors.

scholarly journals Voltage-gated sodium channels in neocortical pyramidal neurons display Cole-Moore activation kinetics

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mara Almog ◽  
Tal Barkai ◽  
Angelika Lampert ◽  
Alon Korngreen
Keyword(s):  
Action Potential ◽  
Sodium Channels ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Brain Slices ◽  
Action Potential Generation ◽  
Potential Generation ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Voltage Gated Sodium Channels ◽  
Gating Mechanism ◽  
Cortical Pyramidal Neurons

AbstractExploring the properties of action potentials is a crucial step towards a better understanding of the computational properties of single neurons and neural networks. The voltage-gated sodium channel is a key player in action potential generation. A comprehensive grasp of the gating mechanism of this channel can shed light on the biophysics of action potential generation. Most models of voltage-gated sodium channels assume it obeys a concerted Hodgkin and Huxley kinetic gating scheme. Here we performed high resolution voltage-clamp experiments from nucleated patches extracted from the soma of layer 5 (L5) cortical pyramidal neurons in rat brain slices. We show that the gating mechanism does not follow traditional Hodgkin and Huxley kinetics and that much of the channel voltage-dependence is probably due to rapid closed-closed transitions that lead to substantial onset latency reminiscent of the Cole-Moore effect observed in voltage-gated potassium conductances. This may have key implications for the role of sodium channels in synaptic integration and action potential generation.

Plastic changes to dendritic spines on layer V pyramidal neurons are involved in the rectifying role of the prefrontal cortex during the fast period of motor learning

2016 ◽  
Vol 298 ◽  
pp. 261-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
David González-Tapia ◽  
Nestor I. Martínez-Torres ◽  
Marisela Hernández-González ◽  
Miguel Angel Guevara ◽  
Ignacio González-Burgos
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Motor Learning ◽  
Dendritic Spines ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Plastic Changes ◽  
Layer V

scholarly journals Overexpression of Tropomyosin Isoform Tpm3.1 Does Not Alter Synaptic Function in Hippocampal Neurons

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (17) ◽  
pp. 9303
Author(s):  
Chanchanok Chaichim ◽  
Tamara Tomanic ◽  
Holly Stefen ◽  
Esmeralda Paric ◽  
Lucy Gamaroff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Spines ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Brain Slices ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Spine Morphology ◽  
Dendritic Spine Morphology ◽  
And Function ◽  
Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

Tropomyosin (Tpm) has been regarded as the master regulator of actin dynamics. Tpms regulate the binding of the various proteins involved in restructuring actin. The actin cytoskeleton is the predominant cytoskeletal structure in dendritic spines. Its regulation is critical for spine formation and long-term activity-dependent changes in synaptic strength. The Tpm isoform Tpm3.1 is enriched in dendritic spines, but its role in regulating the synapse structure and function is not known. To determine the role of Tpm3.1, we studied the synapse structure and function of cultured hippocampal neurons from transgenic mice overexpressing Tpm3.1. We recorded hippocampal field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) from brain slices to examine if Tpm3.1 overexpression alters long-term synaptic plasticity. Tpm3.1-overexpressing cultured neurons did not show a significantly altered dendritic spine morphology or synaptic activity. Similarly, we did not observe altered synaptic transmission or plasticity in brain slices. Furthermore, expression of Tpm3.1 at the postsynaptic compartment does not increase the local F-actin levels. The results suggest that although Tpm3.1 localises to dendritic spines in cultured hippocampal neurons, it does not have any apparent impact on dendritic spine morphology or function. This is contrary to the functional role of Tpm3.1 previously observed at the tip of growing neurites, where it increases the F-actin levels and impacts growth cone dynamics.

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