" ... Using electron microscopy and serial reconstructions, we analyzed the dendritic trees of four morphologically distinct neocortical interneuron subtypes to reveal two underlying organizational principles common to all. First, cross-sectional areas at any given point within a dendrite were proportional to the summed length of all dendritic segments distal to that point. ... Second, dendritic cross-sections became progressively more elliptical at more proximal, larger diameter, dendritic locations. Finally, computer simulations revealed that these conserved morphological features limit distance dependent filtering of somatic EPSPs and facilitate distribution of somatic depolarization into all dendritic compartments. ..."
Model Type: Dendrite
Region(s) or Organism(s): Neocortex
Simulation Environment: NEURON
Implementer(s): Nomura, Masaki [nomura at rcai.riken.jp]
References:
Kubota Y et al. (2011). Conserved properties of dendritic trees in four cortical interneuron subtypes. Scientific reports. 1 [PubMed]