The output of the cerebellum to the motor axis of the central nervous system is orchestrated mainly by synaptic inputs and intrinsic pacemaker activity of deep cerebellar nuclear (DCN) projection neurons. Herein, we demonstrate that the soma of these cells is enriched with KV1 channels produced by mandatory multi-merization of KV1.1, 1.2 alpha andKV beta2 subunits. Being constitutively active, the K+ current (IKV1) mediated by these channels stabilizes the rate and regulates the temporal precision of self-sustained firing of these neurons. ... Through the use of multi-compartmental modelling and ... the physiological significance of the described functions for processing and communication of information from the lateral DCN to thalamic relay nuclei is established.
Model Type: Neuron or other electrically excitable cell; Channel/Receptor
Cell Type(s): Cerebellum deep nucleus neuron
Currents: I Na,p; I Na,t; I L high threshold; I T low threshold; I K; I h; I CAN; I_Ks
Genes: Kv1.1 KCNA1; Kv1.2 KCNA2
Model Concept(s): Bursting; Ion Channel Kinetics; Active Dendrites; Detailed Neuronal Models; Intrinsic plasticity; Rebound firing
Simulation Environment: NEURON
Implementer(s): Steuber, Volker [v.steuber at herts.ac.uk]; Luthman, Johannes [jwluthman at gmail.com]
References:
Ovsepian SV et al. (2013). A defined heteromeric KV1 channel stabilizes the intrinsic pacemaking and regulates the output of deep cerebellar nuclear neurons to thalamic targets. The Journal of physiology. 591 [PubMed]