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Firing properties of Renshaw cells defined by Chrna2 are modulated by hyperpolarizing and small conductance ion currents Ih and ISK

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 01:58 authored by Sharn PerrySharn Perry, Gezelius, H, Larhammar, M, Hilscher, MM, Lamotte d Incamps, B, Leao, KE, Kullander, K
Renshaw cells in the spinal cord ventral horn regulate motoneuron output through recurrent inhibition. Renshaw cells can be identified in vitro using anatomical and cellular criteria; however, their functional role in locomotion remains poorly defined because of the difficulty of functionally isolating Renshaw cells from surrounding motor circuits. Here we aimed to investigate whether the cholinergic nicotinic receptor alpha2 (Chrna2) can be used to identify Renshaw cells (RCs(α2)) in the mouse spinal cord. Immunohistochemistry and electrophysiological characterization of passive and active RCs(α2) properties confirmed that neurons genetically marked by the Chrna2-Cre mouse line together with a fluorescent reporter mouse line are Renshaw cells. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings revealed that RCs(α2) constitute an electrophysiologically stereotyped population with a resting membrane potential of -50.5 ± 0.4 mV and an input resistance of 233.1 ± 11 MΩ. We identified a ZD7288-sensitive hyperpolarization-activated cation current (Ih) in all RCs(α2), contributing to membrane repolarization but not to the resting membrane potential in neonatal mice. Additionally, we found RCs(α2) to express small calcium-activated potassium currents (I(SK)) that, when blocked by apamin, resulted in a complete attenuation of the afterhyperpolarisation potential, increasing cellular firing frequency. We conclude that RCs(α2) can be genetically targeted through their selective Chrna2 expression and that they display currents known to modulate rebound excitation and firing frequency. The genetic identification of Renshaw cells and their electrophysiological profile is required for genetic and pharmacological manipulation as well as computational simulations with the aim to understand their functional role.

History

Publication title

European Journal of Neuroscience

Volume

41

Issue

7

Pagination

889-900

ISSN

0953-816X

Department/School

Wicking Dementia Research Education Centre

Publisher

Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Place of publication

9600 Garsington Rd, Oxford, England, Oxon, Ox4 2Dg

Rights statement

Copyright 2015 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Other health not elsewhere classified

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