Control of interneuron firing by subthreshold synaptic potentials in principal cells of the dorsal cochlear nucleus

Pierre F. Apostolides, Laurence O. Trussell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Voltage-gated ion channels amplify, compartmentalize, and normalize synaptic signals received by neurons. We show that voltage-gated channels activated during subthreshold glutamatergic synaptic potentials in a principal cell generate an excitatory→inhibitory synaptic sequence that excites electrically coupled interneurons. In fusiform cells of the dorsal cochlear nucleus, excitatory synapsesactivate a TTX-sensitive Na+ conductance and deactivate a resting Ih conductance, leading to a striking reshaping of the synaptic potential. Subthreshold voltage changes resulting from activation/deactivation of these channels subsequently propagate through gap junctions, causing slow excitation followed by inhibition in GABAergic stellate interneurons. Gap-junction-mediated transmission of voltage-gated signals accounts for the majority of glutamatergic signaling to interneurons, such that subthreshold synaptic events from a single principal cell are sufficient to drive spikes in coupled interneurons. Thus, the interaction between a principal cell's synaptic and voltage-gated channels may determine the spike activity of networks without firing a single action potential.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)324-330
Number of pages7
JournalNeuron
Volume83
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 16 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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