The role of hyperpolarization-activated cationic current in spike-time precision and intrinsic resonance in cortical neurons in vitro

J Physiol. 2011 Aug 1;589(Pt 15):3753-73. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.209148. Epub 2011 May 30.

Abstract

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide modulated current (I(h)) sets resonance frequency within the θ-range (5–12 Hz) in pyramidal neurons. However, its precise contribution to the temporal fidelity of spike generation in response to stimulation of excitatory or inhibitory synapses remains unclear. In conditions where pharmacological blockade of I(h) does not affect synaptic transmission, we show that postsynaptic h-channels improve spike time precision in CA1 pyramidal neurons through two main mechanisms. I(h) enhances precision of excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)--spike coupling because I(h) reduces peak EPSP duration. I(h) improves the precision of rebound spiking following inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) in CA1 pyramidal neurons and sets pacemaker activity in stratum oriens interneurons because I(h) accelerates the decay of both IPSPs and after-hyperpolarizing potentials (AHPs). The contribution of h-channels to intrinsic resonance and EPSP waveform was comparatively much smaller in CA3 pyramidal neurons. Our results indicate that the elementary mechanisms by which postsynaptic h-channels control fidelity of spike timing at the scale of individual neurons may account for the decreased theta-activity observed in hippocampal and neocortical networks when h-channel activity is pharmacologically reduced.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels / metabolism
  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels / physiology*
  • Electric Stimulation / methods
  • Electrophysiology / methods
  • Evoked Potentials / drug effects
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / drug effects
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / physiology*
  • Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels
  • Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials / drug effects
  • Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials / physiology*
  • Neocortex / drug effects
  • Neocortex / physiology*
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Potassium Channels / metabolism
  • Potassium Channels / physiology*
  • Pyramidal Cells / drug effects
  • Pyramidal Cells / physiology*
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Synapses / drug effects
  • Synapses / physiology
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology

Substances

  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels
  • Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels
  • Potassium Channels
  • Pyrimidines
  • ICI D2788