title: T-type calcium channels consolidate tonic action potential output of thalamic neurons to neocortex.
abstract: The thalamic output during different behavioral states is strictly controlled by the firing modes of thalamocortical neurons. During sleep, their hyperpolarized membrane potential allows activation of the T-type calcium channels, promoting rhythmic high-frequency burst firing that reduces sensory information transfer. In contrast, in the waking state thalamic neurons mostly exhibit action potentials at low frequency (i.e., tonic firing), enabling the reliable transfer of incoming sensory inputs to cortex. Because of their nearly complete inactivation at the depolarized potentials that are experienced during the wake state, T-channels are not believed to modulate tonic action potential discharges. Here, we demonstrate using mice brain slices that activation of T-channels in thalamocortical neurons maintained in the depolarized/wake-like state is critical for the reliable expression of tonic firing, securing their excitability over changes in membrane potential that occur in the depolarized state. Our results establish a novel mechanism for the integration of sensory information by thalamocortical neurons and point to an unexpected role for T-channels in the early stage of information processing.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Neurosciences, Information et Complexité (UNIC), UPR 3293 CNRS, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deleuze
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Béhuret
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sadoc
authors.forename: Hee-Sup
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Victor N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Uebele
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Renger
authors.forename: Régis C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leresche
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bal
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008959:Models, Neurological; D019579:Neocortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C498197:Cacna1g protein, mouse; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type