Among the rhythmic firing patterns observed in brain, gamma oscillations, which are involved in memory formation and retrieval, are generated by networks of fast-spiking basket cells (FS-BCs) with robust interconnectivity through fast GABA synapses. Recently, we identified presence of extrasynaptic tonic GABA currents in FS-BCs and showed that experimentally-induced seizures enhance extrasynaptic tonic GABA currents and render GABA reversal potential (EGABA) depolarizing (Yu et al., 2013). Extrasynaptic GABA currents are mediated by extra- and peri-synaptically located GABAARs and can contribute to synaptic decay kinetics. Additionally, shunting rather than hyperpolarizing EGABA has been shown to increase the frequency and reduce coherence of network oscillations. Using homogeneous networks of biophysically-based, multi-compartmental model FS-BCs, we examined how the presence of extrasynaptic GABA currents and the experimentally identified seizure-induced alterations in GABA currents and EGABA modify the frequency and coherence of network firing.
Model Type: Neuron or other electrically excitable cell
Cell Type(s): Dentate gyrus basket cell
Receptors: GabaA
Transmitters: Gaba
Model Concept(s): Oscillations
Simulation Environment: NEURON
References:
Proddutur A, Yu J, Elgammal FS, Santhakumar V. (2013). Seizure-induced alterations in fast-spiking basket cell GABA currents modulate frequency and coherence of gamma oscillation in network simulations. Chaos (Woodbury, N.Y.). 23 [PubMed]