title: Slack and Slick K(Na) channels regulate the accuracy of timing of auditory neurons.
abstract: The Slack (sequence like a calcium-activated K channel) and Slick (sequence like an intermediate conductance K channel) genes, which encode sodium-activated K+ (K(Na)) channels, are expressed at high levels in neurons of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) in the auditory brainstem. These neurons lock their action potentials to incoming stimuli with a high degree of temporal precision. Channels with unitary properties similar to those of Slack and/or Slick channels, which are gated by [Na+]i and [Cl-]i and by changes in cytoplasmic ATP levels, are present in MNTB neurons. Manipulations of the level of K(Na) current in MNTB neurons, either by increasing levels of internal Na+ or by exposure to a pharmacological activator of Slack channels, significantly enhance the accuracy of timing of action potentials at high frequencies of stimulation. These findings suggest that such fidelity of timing at high frequencies may be attributed in part to high-conductance K(Na) channels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Rooma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Leonard K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Kaczmarek
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D001735:Bithionol / Q000494:pharmacology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000378:metabolism; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000081033:Potassium Channels, Sodium-Activated; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C518649:Kcnt2 protein, mouse; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D015221:Potassium Channels; D000081033:Potassium Channels, Sodium-Activated; C479624:Slo2 protein, mouse; D012964:Sodium; D001735:Bithionol