Axonal filtering allows reliable output during dendritic plateau-driven complex spiking in CA1 neurons.

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Neuron. 2016 Feb 17;89(4):770-783. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2015.12.040

Axonal filtering allows reliable output during dendritic plateau-driven complex spiking in CA1 neurons. Magee Lab

Apostolides PF, Milstein AD, Grienberger C, Bittner KC, Magee JC

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Abstract

In CA1 pyramidal neurons, correlated inputs trigger dendritic plateau potentials that drive neuronal plasticity and firing rate modulation. Given the strong electrotonic coupling between soma and axon, the >25 mV depolarization associated with the plateau could propagate through the axon to influence action potential initiation, propagation, and neurotransmitter release. We examined this issue in brain slices, awake mice, and a computational model. Despite profoundly inactivating somatic and proximal axon Na(+) channels, plateaus evoked action potentials that recovered to full amplitude in the distal axon (>150 μm) and triggered neurotransmitter release similar to regular spiking. This effect was due to strong attenuation of plateau depolarizations by axonal K(+) channels, allowing full axon repolarization and Na(+) channel deinactivation. High-pass filtering of dendritic plateaus by axonal K(+) channels should thus enable accurate transmission of gain-modulated firing rates, allowing neuronal firing to be efficiently read out by downstream regions as a simple rate code.

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Axonal filtering allows reliable output during dendritic plateau-driven complex spiking in CA1 neurons.

Abstract

Janelia Authors