title: Distribution and function of potassium channels in the electrosensory lateral line lobe of weakly electric apteronotid fish.
abstract: Potassium channels are one of the fundamental requirements for the generation of action potentials in the nervous system, and their characteristics shape the output of neurons in response to synaptic input. We review here the distribution and function of a high-threshold potassium channel (Kv3.3) in the electrosensory lateral line lobe of the weakly electric fish Apteronotus leptorhynchus, with particular focus on the pyramidal cells in this brain structure. These cells contain both high-threshold Kv3.3 channels, as well as low-threshold potassium channels of unknown molecular identity. Kv3.3 potassium channels regulate burst discharge in pyramidal cells and enable sustained high frequency firing through their ability to reduce an accumulation of low-threshold potassium current.
authors.affiliation: Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. N.W., T2N 4N1, Calgary, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Mehaffey
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004555:Electric Fish / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D004557:Electric Organ / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051670:Shaw Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C419544:AptKv3.3 protein, Apteronotus leptorhynchus; D029941:Fish Proteins; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D051670:Shaw Potassium Channels