title: Differentiation of electrical excitability in motoneurons.
abstract: Investigation of the differentiation of electrical properties of motoneurons has been stimulated by the importance of these neurons for embryonic behavior and facilitated by their experimental accessibility. In this review, we examine the development of different patterns of excitability and their functions, and discuss the emergence of repetitive firing and localization of ion channels in axons and dendrites. Finally, we summarize studies of the role of extrinsic factors in differentiation. These changes associated with differentiation of young motoneurons may presage those occurring later in the context of plasticity in the mature nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Center for Molecular Genetics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0357, USA. NSpitzer@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Spitzer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Lautermilch
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000870:Anterior Horn Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels