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A-type K+ currents in intralaminar thalamocortical relay neurons

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Abstract

Transient A-type K+ currents (IA) are known to influence the firing pattern of a number of thalamic cell types, but have not been investigated in intralaminar thalamocortical (TC) relay neurons yet. We therefore combined whole-cell patch-clamp techniques, PCR analysis, and immunohistochemistry to investigate the voltage-dependent and pharmacological properties of IA and to determine its molecular basis in TC neurons from the centrolateral, paracentral, and centromedial thalamic nuclei. IA revealed half-maximal (V h) activation and inactivation at about −17 and −67 mV, respectively. At a concentration of 5–10 mM 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) completely blocked IA. Furthermore, IA was nearly unaffected by two sea anemone toxins (blood depressing substances 1 and 2, BDS1 and BDS2; 6–8% block at a concentration of 1 μM) but strongly sensitive to the KV4 channel blocker Heteropoda venatoria toxin 2 (HpTx2; about 45% block at a concentration of 5 μM). PCR screening revealed the expression of KV4.1–4.3, with strongest expression for KV4.2 and weak expression for KV4.1. Accordingly KV4.1 was not detected in immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, KV4.2 and KV4.3 revealed mainly dendritic and somatic staining, respectively. Together with current clamp recordings, these findings point to a scenario where the fast transient IA in intralaminar TC neurons has a depolarized threshold at potentials negative to −50 mV, is substantially generated by KV4.2 and KV4.3 channels, allows prominent burst firing at hyperpolarized potentials, prevents the generation of high-threshold potentials, generates a delayed onset of firing at more depolarized potentials, and allows fast tonic firing.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank E. Nass for the excellent technical assistance. This work was supported by DFG (BU 1019/8-1 to TB; PA 336/17-1 to HCP) and the fund “Innovative Medical Research” of the University of Münster Medical School (BU 12 08 03 to TB).

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  1. Tilman Broicher

    Present address: Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, 20 South 2030 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Physiology I, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Robert-Koch-Str. 27a, 48149, Münster, Germany

    Tatyana Kanyshkova, Tilman Broicher, Hans-Christian Pape & Thomas Budde

  2. Institute of Physiology, Department of Neuropathophysiology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Domagkstr. 13, 48149, Münster, Germany

    Sven. G. Meuth

  3. Department of Neurology, Inflammatory Disorders of the Nervous System and Neurooncology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Domagkstr. 13, 48149, Münster, Germany

    Sven. G. Meuth

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  1. Tatyana Kanyshkova
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Correspondence to Thomas Budde.

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Kanyshkova, T., Broicher, T., Meuth, S.G. et al. A-type K+ currents in intralaminar thalamocortical relay neurons. Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol 461, 545–556 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-011-0953-2

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