title: Distance-dependent modifiable threshold for action potential back-propagation in hippocampal dendrites.
abstract: In hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, action potentials generated in the axon back-propagate in a decremental fashion into the dendritic tree where they affect synaptic integration and synaptic plasticity. The amplitude of back-propagating action potentials (b-APs) is controlled by various biological factors, including membrane potential (Vm). We report that, at any dendritic location (x), the transition from weak (small-amplitude b-APs) to strong (large-amplitude b-APs) back-propagation occurs when Vm crosses a threshold potential, x. When Vm > x, back-propagation is strong (mostly active). Conversely, when Vm < x, back-propagation is weak (mostly passive). x varies linearly with the distance (x) from the soma. Close to the soma, x << resting membrane potential (RMP) and a strong hyperpolarization of the membrane is necessary to switch back-propagation from strong to weak. In the distal dendrites, x >> RMP and a strong depolarization is necessary to switch back-propagation from weak to strong. At approximately 260 micrometer from the soma, 260 approximately RMP, suggesting that in this dendritic region back-propagation starts to switch from strong to weak. x depends on the availability or state of Na+ and K+ channels. Partial blockade or phosphorylation of K+ channels decreases x and thereby increases the portion of the dendritic tree experiencing strong back-propagation. Partial blockade or inactivation of Na+ channels has the opposite effect. We conclude that x is a parameter that captures the onset of the transition from weak to strong back-propagation. Its modification may alter dendritic function under physiological and pathological conditions by changing how far large action potentials back-propagate in the dendritic tree.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. cbernard@inmed.univ-mrs.fr
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*