Journal
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
Volume 27, Issue 10, Pages 2617-2627Publisher
SOC NEUROSCIENCE
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5308-06.2007
Keywords
Na+-activated K+ (K-Na) channels; medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB); patch clamp; computer simulations; synaptic transmission; immunohistochemistry
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Funding
- NIDCD NIH HHS [R01 DC001919, DC-01919] Funding Source: Medline
- NINDS NIH HHS [P01 NS042202, NS42202] Funding Source: Medline
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The Slack (sequence like a calcium-activated K channel) and Slick (sequence like an intermediate conductance K channel) genes, which encode sodium-activated K+(K-Na) channels, are expressed at high levels in neurons of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) in the auditory brainstem. These neurons lock their action potentials to incoming stimuli with a high degree of temporal precision. Channels with unitary properties similar to those of Slack and/or Slick channels, which are gated by [Na+](i) and [Cl-](i) and by changes in cytoplasmic ATP levels, are present in MNTB neurons. Manipulations of the level of KNa current in MNTB neurons, either by increasing levels of internal Na+ or by exposure to a pharmacological activator of Slack channels, significantly enhance the accuracy of timing of action potentials at high frequencies of stimulation. These findings suggest that such fidelity of timing at high frequencies may be attributed in part to high-conductance KNa channels.
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