title: Voltage-sensitive ion channels in rhythmic motor systems.
abstract: Voltage-sensitive ionic currents shape both the firing properties of neurons and their synaptic integration within neural networks that drive rhythmic motor patterns. Persistent sodium currents underlie rhythmic bursting in respiratory neurons. H-type pacemaker currents can act as leak conductances in spinal motoneurons, and also control long-term modulation of synaptic release at the crayfish neuromuscular junction. Calcium currents travel in rostro-caudal waves with motoneuron activity in the spinal cord. Potassium currents control spike width and burst duration in many rhythmic motor systems. We are beginning to identify the genes that underlie these currents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Seeley G. Mudd Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA. rmh4@cornell.edu
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Harris-Warrick
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D007473:Ion Channels; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D015222:Sodium Channels