JN Fuel your research with LabChart
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


J Neurophysiol (May 17, 2006). doi:10.1152/jn.00264.2006
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
96/2/555    most recent
00264.2006v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rubin, D. B
Right arrow Articles by Cleland, T. A
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Rubin, D. B
Right arrow Articles by Cleland, T. A
Submitted on March 10, 2006
Accepted on April 21, 2006

Dynamical mechanisms of odor processing in olfactory bulb mitral cells

Daniel B Rubin1 and Thomas A Cleland1*

1 Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: tac29{at}cornell.edu.

In the olfactory system, the contribution of dynamical properties such as neuronal oscillations and spike synchronization to the representation of odor stimuli is a matter of substantial debate. While relatively simple computational models have sufficed to guide current research in large-scale network dynamics, less attention has been paid to modeling the membrane dynamics in bulbar neurons that may be equally essential to sensory processing. We here present a reduced, conductance-based compartmental model of olfactory bulb mitral cells that exhibits the complex dynamical properties observed in these neurons. Specifically, model neurons exhibit intrinsic subthreshold oscillations with voltage-dependent frequencies that shape the timing of stimulus-evoked action potentials. These oscillations rely on a persistent sodium conductance, an inactivating potassium conductance, and a calcium-dependent potassium conductance, and are reset via inhibitory input such as that delivered by periglomerular cell shunt inhibition. Mitral cells fire bursts, or clusters, of spikes when continuously stimulated. Burst properties depend critically on multiple currents, but a progressive deinactivation of IA over the course of a burst is an important regulator of burst termination. Each of these complex properties exhibits appropriate dynamics and pharmacology as determined by electrophysiological studies. Additionally, we propose that a second, inconsistently-observed form of infrathreshold bistability in mitral cells may derive from the activation of ATP-activated potassium currents responding to hypoxic conditions. We discuss the integration of these cellular properties in the larger context of olfactory bulb network operations.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
T. A. Cleland, B. A. Johnson, M. Leon, and C. Linster
Relational representation in the olfactory system
PNAS, February 6, 2007; 104(6): 1953 - 1958.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
Visit Other APS Journals Online
Copyright © 2006 by the The American Physiological Society.