Journal
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
Volume 25, Issue 43, Pages 10025-10028Publisher
SOC NEUROSCIENCE
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3557-05.2005
Keywords
stochastic dynamics; persistent sodium; theta rhythm; entorhinal; dynamic clamp; excitability
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Funding
- NIMH NIH HHS [R01 MH61604, R01 MH061604] Funding Source: Medline
- NINDS NIH HHS [R01 NS34425, R01 NS034425] Funding Source: Medline
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Previous experimental and computational work (for review, see White et al., 2000) has suggested that channel noise, generated by the stochastic flicker of voltage-gated ion channels, can be a major contributor to electrical membrane noise in neurons. In spiny stellate neurons of the entorhinal cortex, we remove the primary source of channel noise by pharmacologically blocking the native persistent Na+ conductance. Via the dynamic-clamp technique (Robinson and Kawai, 1993; Sharp et al., 1993), we then introduce virtual persistent Na+ channels into the membranes of the stellate neurons. By altering the mathematical properties of these virtual knock- ins, we demonstrate that stochastic flicker of persistent Na+ channels is necessary for the existence of slow perithreshold oscillations that characterize stellate neurons. Channel noise also alters the ability of stellate neurons to phase lock to weak sinusoidal stimuli. These results provide the first direct demonstration that physiological levels of channel noise can produce qualitative changes in the integrative properties of neurons.
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