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Frequency-Dependent Reliability of Spike Propagation Is Function of Axonal Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels in Cerebellar Purkinje Cells

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Abstract

The spike propagation on nerve axons, like synaptic transmission, is essential to ensure neuronal communication. The secure propagation of sequential spikes toward axonal terminals has been challenged in the neurons with a high firing rate, such as cerebellar Purkinje cells. The shortfall of spike propagation makes some digital spikes disappearing at axonal terminals, such that the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying spike propagation reliability is crucial to find the strategy of preventing loss of neuronal codes. As the spike propagation failure is influenced by the membrane potentials, this process is likely caused by altering the functional status of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSC). We examined this hypothesis in Purkinje cells by using pair-recordings at their somata and axonal blebs in cerebellar slices. The reliability of spike propagation was deteriorated by elevating spike frequency. The frequency-dependent reliability of spike propagation was attenuated by inactivating VGSCs and improved by removing their inactivation. Thus, the functional status of axonal VGSCs influences the reliability of spike propagation.

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Acknowledgments

Yang works on experimental analyses. Wang contributes to project design and manuscript writing. This study is supported by the National Basic Research Program (2013CB531304 and 2011CB504405) and Natural Science Foundation China (30990261 and 81171033) to JHW.

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Authors claim there is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key lab for Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

    Zhilai Yang & Jin-Hui Wang

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Zhilai Yang & Jin-Hui Wang

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  1. Zhilai Yang
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Correspondence to Jin-Hui Wang.

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Yang, Z., Wang, JH. Frequency-Dependent Reliability of Spike Propagation Is Function of Axonal Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels in Cerebellar Purkinje Cells. Cerebellum 12, 862–869 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-013-0499-2

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