Effects of transient receptor potential-like current on the firing pattern of action potentials in the Hodgkin-Huxley neuron during exposure to sinusoidal external voltage

Chin J Physiol. 2010 Dec 31;53(6):423-9. doi: 10.4077/cjp.2010.amm026.

Abstract

Transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) channels play a role in several inflammatory and nociceptive processes. Previous work showed that magnetic electrical field-induced antinociceptive [corrected] action is mediated by activation of capsaicin-sensitive sensory afferents. In this study, a modified Hodgkin-Huxley model, in which TRP-like current (ITRP) was incorporated, was implemented to predict the firing behavior of action potentials (APs), as the model neuron was exposed to sinusoidal changes in externally-applied voltage. When model neuron is exposed to low-frequency sinusoidal voltage, increased maximal conductance of ITRP can enhance repetitive bursts of APs accompanied by a shortening of inter-spike interval (ISI) in AP firing. The change in ISIs with number of interval is periodic with the phase-locking. In addition, increased maximal conductance of ITRP can abolish chaotic pattern of AP firing in model neuron during exposure to high-frequency voltage. The ISI pattern is converted from irregular to constant, as maximal conductance of ITRP is increased under such high-frequency voltage. Our simulation results suggest that modulation of TRP-like channels functionally expressed in small-diameter peripheral sensory neurons should be an important mechanism through which it can contribute to the firing pattern of APs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Computer Simulation*
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Humans
  • Membrane Potentials / physiology
  • Models, Neurological*
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Sensory Receptor Cells / physiology*
  • Transient Receptor Potential Channels / physiology*

Substances

  • Transient Receptor Potential Channels