Purkinje neurons spontaneously generate action potentials in the absence of synaptic drive and thereby exert a tonic, yet plastic, input to their target cells in the deep cerebellar nuclei. Purkinje neurons express two ionic currents with biophysical properties that are specialized for high-frequency firing: resurgent sodium currents and potassium currents mediated by Kv3.3. Numerical simulations indicated that Kv3.3 increases the spontaneous firing rate via cooperation with resurgent sodium currents. We conclude that the rate of spontaneous action potential firing of Purkinje neurons is controlled by the interaction of Kv3.3 potassium currents and resurgent sodium currents. See paper for more and details.
Model Type: Neuron or other electrically excitable cell
Cell Type(s): Cerebellum Purkinje GABA cell
Currents: I Na,t; I A; I K; I h; I K,Ca; I Calcium
Genes: Kv1.1 KCNA1; Kv4.3 KCND3; Kv3.3 KCNC3; HCN1
Model Concept(s): Ion Channel Kinetics; Oscillations; Action Potentials; Calcium dynamics
Simulation Environment: NEURON
Implementer(s): Akemann, Walther [akemann at brain.riken.jp]
References:
Akemann W, Knöpfel T. (2006). Interaction of Kv3 potassium channels and resurgent sodium current influences the rate of spontaneous firing of Purkinje neurons. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 26 [PubMed]