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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 98/3/1526    most recent 00564.2007v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (6) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ellis, L. D. Articles by Chacron, M. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ellis, L. D. Articles by Chacron, M. J.

Muscarinic Receptors Control Frequency Tuning Through the Downregulation of an A-Type Potassium Current

¹Center for Research in Neuroscience, ²Department of Biology, McGill University; and ³ Departments of Physiology and Physics, Center for Non-Linear Dynamics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Submitted 21 May 2007; accepted in final form 2 July 2007

The functional role of cholinergic input in the modulation of sensory responses was studied using a combination of in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology supplemented by mathematical modeling. The electrosensory system of weakly electric fish recognizes different environmental stimuli by their unique alteration of a self-generated electric field. Variations in the patterns of stimuli are primarily distinguished based on their frequency. Pyramidal neurons in the electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL) are often tuned to respond to specific input frequencies. Alterations in the tuning of the pyramidal neurons may allow weakly electric fish to preferentially select for certain stimuli. Here we show that muscarinic receptor activation in vivo enhances the excitability, burst firing, and subsequently the response of pyramidal cells to naturalistic sensory input. Through a combination of in vitro electrophysiology and mathematical modeling, we reveal that this enhanced excitability and bursting likely results from the down-regulation of an A-type potassium current. Further, we provide an explanation of the mechanism by which these currents can mediate frequency tuning.

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