ePoster

Integrative properties of bursting vs. regular firing subiculum neurons investigated via dynamic clamp

Melinda Gazdik, Petra Varró, Attila Szűcs
FENS Forum 2024(2024)
Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Conference

FENS Forum 2024

Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Resources

Authors & Affiliations

Melinda Gazdik, Petra Varró, Attila Szűcs

Abstract

The subiculum is one of the most important brain structure in the hippocampal formation which has an essential role in forwarding the hippocampal information to different cortical and subcortical regions. Pyramidal cells are the principal cell type in the subiculum and based on their firing dynamics, they can be divided into regular and bursting phenotypes. Previously, functional characterization of these cells was mainly performed by using conventional electrophysiological methods (current steps). However, our research group uses advanced methods (dynamic clamp) to expose neurons to physiologically more realistic stimuli representing synaptic inputs in the neuronal network. This paradigm allows us to investigate the firing patterns, spike timing reliability and precision of neurons under various types of in vivo-like activity. Our experiments were performed on acute brain slices from mice by using whole-cell patch clamp. First, we used the traditional current step protocol to assess the standard biophysical parameters and static exticability of the neurons. Then, we applied our dynamic clamp protocol to the same cells where we elicited firing responses driven by computer-synthesized synaptic currents. Comparing the neuronal responses during static (rectangular) and dynamic (synaptic-like) stimulation, differential regulation of intrinsic excitability and weak correlation between the total spike counts was observed. Moreover, the firing responses of regular and bursting neurons differed in a stimulation intensity dependent manner, not readily expected from the static responses. The results can serve as a further help to the better understanding of the effects of voltage-dependent ionic currents in neurons that regulate synaptic integration.

Unique ID: fens-24/integrative-properties-bursting-regular-b5150272