The discharge properties of the medial vestibular nucleus neurones (MVNn) critically depend on the activity of several ion channel types. In this study we show, immunohistochemically, that the voltage-gated K<sup>+</sup> channels ERG1A, ERG1B, ERG2 and ERG3 are highly expressed within the vestibular nuclei of P10 and P60 mice. The role played by these channels in the spike-generating mechanisms of the MVNn and in temporal information processing was investigated electrophysiologically from mouse brain slices, in vitro, by analysing the spontaneous discharge and the response to square-, ramp- and sinusoid-like intracellular DC current injections in extracellular and whole-cell patch-clamp studies. We show that more than half of the recorded MVNn were responsive to ERG channel block (WAY-123,398, E4031), displaying an increase in spontaneous activity and discharge irregularity. The response to step and ramp current injection was also modified by ERG block showing a reduction of first spike latency, enhancement of discharge rate and reduction of the slow spike-frequency adaptation process. ERG channels influence the interspike slope without affecting the spike shape. Moreover, in response to sinusoid-like current, ERG channel block caused frequency-dependent gain enhancement and phase-lead shift. Taken together, the data demonstrate that ERG channels control the excitability of MVNn, their discharge regularity and probably their resonance properties. © 2008 The Author. Journal compilation © 2008 The Physiological Society.
Pessia, M., Servettini, I., Panichi, R., Guasti, S., Grassi, S., Arcangeli, A., et al. (2008). ERG voltage-gated K+ channels regulate excitability and discharge dynamics of the medial vestibular nucleus neurons. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, 586, 4877-4890 [10.1113/jphysiol.2008.155762].
Citazione: | Pessia, M., Servettini, I., Panichi, R., Guasti, S., Grassi, S., Arcangeli, A., et al. (2008). ERG voltage-gated K+ channels regulate excitability and discharge dynamics of the medial vestibular nucleus neurons. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, 586, 4877-4890 [10.1113/jphysiol.2008.155762]. | |
Tipo: | Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico | |
Carattere della pubblicazione: | Scientifica | |
Titolo: | ERG voltage-gated K+ channels regulate excitability and discharge dynamics of the medial vestibular nucleus neurons | |
Autori: | Pessia, M; Servettini, I; Panichi, R; Guasti, S; Grassi, S; Arcangeli, A; Wanke, E; Pettorossi, VE | |
Autori: | ||
Data di pubblicazione: | 2008 | |
Lingua: | English | |
Rivista: | THE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2008.155762 | |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 01 - Articolo su rivista |