A network of oscillatory bursting neurons with excitatory coupling is hypothesized to define the primary kernel for respiratory rhythm generation in the pre-Botzinger complex (pre-BotC) in mammals. Two minimal models of these neurons are proposed. In model 1, bursting arises via fast activation and slow inactivation of a persistent Na current INaP-h. In model 2, bursting arises via a fast-activating persistent Na current INaP and slow activation of a K1 current IKS. In both models, action potentials are generated via fast Na and K currents. The two models have few differences in parameters to facilitate a rigorous comparison of the two different burst-generating mechanisms. Both models are consistent with many of the dynamic features of electrophysiological recordings from pre-BotC oscillatory bursting neurons in vitro, including voltage-dependent activity modes (silence, bursting, and beating), a voltage-dependent burst frequency that can vary from 0.05 to .1 Hz, and a decaying spike frequency during bursting. These results are robust and persist across a wide range of parameter values for both models. However, the dynamics of model 1 are more consistent with experimental data in that the burst duration decreases as the baseline membrane potential is depolarized and the model has a relatively flat membrane potential trajectory during the interburst interval. We propose several experimental tests to demonstrate the validity of either model and to differentiate between the two mechanisms.
Cell Type(s): Hodgkin-Huxley neuron
Currents: I_Ks; I Potassium; I Sodium; I Na,p; I K
Model Concept(s): Bursting; Action Potentials
References:
Butera RJ, Rinzel J, Smith JC. (1999). Models of respiratory rhythm generation in the pre-Bötzinger complex. I. Bursting pacemaker neurons. Journal of neurophysiology. 82 [PubMed]