Properties and functional implications of I (h) in hippocampal area CA3 interneurons

Pflugers Arch. 2011 Dec;462(6):895-912. doi: 10.1007/s00424-011-1025-3. Epub 2011 Sep 21.

Abstract

The present study examines the biophysical properties and functional implications of I (h) in hippocampal area CA3 interneurons with somata in strata radiatum and lacunosum-moleculare. Characterization studies showed a small maximum h-conductance (2.6 ± 0.3 nS, n = 11), shallow voltage dependence with a hyperpolarized half-maximal activation (V (1/2) = -91 mV), and kinetics characterized by double-exponential functions. The functional consequences of I (h) were examined with regard to temporal summation and impedance measurements. For temporal summation experiments, 5-pulse mossy fiber input trains were activated. Blocking I (h) with 50 μM ZD7288 resulted in an increase in temporal summation, suggesting that I (h) supports sensitivity of response amplitude to relative input timing. Impedance was assessed by applying sinusoidal current commands. From impedance measurements, we found that I (h) did not confer theta-band resonance, but flattened the impedance-frequency relations instead. Double immunolabeling for hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated proteins and glutamate decarboxylase 67 suggests that all four subunits are present in GABAergic interneurons from the strata considered for electrophysiological studies. Finally, a model of I (h) was employed in computational analyses to confirm and elaborate upon the contributions of I (h) to impedance and temporal summation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Computer Simulation
  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels / metabolism*
  • Hippocampus / cytology*
  • Hippocampus / physiology*
  • Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels
  • Interneurons / physiology*
  • Ion Channel Gating / physiology*
  • Membrane Potentials / physiology*
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Potassium Channels / metabolism*
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels
  • Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels
  • Potassium Channels
  • Protein Subunits
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid