title: Distinct contributions of Na(v)1.6 and Na(v)1.2 in action potential initiation and backpropagation.
abstract: The distal end of the axon initial segment (AIS) is the preferred site for action potential initiation in cortical pyramidal neurons because of its high Na(+) channel density. However, it is not clear why action potentials are not initiated at the proximal AIS, which has a similarly high Na(+) channel density. We found that low-threshold Na(v)1.6 and high-threshold Na(v)1.2 channels preferentially accumulate at the distal and proximal AIS, respectively, and have distinct functions in action potential initiation and backpropagation. Patch-clamp recording from the axon cut end of pyramidal neurons in the rat prefrontal cortex revealed a high density of Na(+) current and a progressive reduction in the half-activation voltage (up to 14 mV) with increasing distance from the soma at the AIS. Further modeling studies and simultaneous somatic and axonal recordings showed that distal Na(v)1.6 promotes action potential initiation, whereas proximal Na(v)1.2 promotes its backpropagation to the soma.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Wenqin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Cuiping
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Tun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Mingpo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Yousheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shu
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000502:physiology; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D062551:NAV1.2 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D062557:NAV1.6 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D062551:NAV1.2 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D062557:NAV1.6 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C568253:Scn2A protein, rat; C507811:Scn8a protein, rat; D015222:Sodium Channels; D012964:Sodium