The role of membrane capacitance and ion channels in the response of primary auditory neurons to infrared light (Conference Presentation)

Author(s):  
William G. A. Brown ◽  
Karina Needham ◽  
Alexander C. Thompson ◽  
Bryony Nayagam ◽  
Paul R. Stoddart
Author(s):  
Stefan Gründer

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are proton-gated Na+ channels. Being almost ubiquitously present in neurons of the vertebrate nervous system, their precise function remained obscure for a long time. Various animal toxins that bind to ASICs with high affinity and specificity have been tremendously helpful in uncovering the role of ASICs. We now know that they contribute to synaptic transmission at excitatory synapses as well as to sensing metabolic acidosis and nociception. Moreover, detailed characterization of mouse models uncovered an unanticipated role of ASICs in disorders of the nervous system like stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pathological pain. This review provides an overview on the expression, structure, and pharmacology of ASICs plus a summary of what is known and what is still unknown about their physiological functions and their roles in diseases.


Author(s):  
Leonard K. Kaczmarek

All neurons express a subset of over seventy genes encoding potassium channel subunits. These channels have been studied in auditory neurons, particularly in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body. The amplitude and kinetics of various channels in these neurons can be modified by the auditory environment. It has been suggested that such modulation is an adaptation of neuronal firing patterns to specific patterns of auditory inputs. Alternatively, such modulation may allow a group of neurons, all expressing the same set of channels, to represent a variety of responses to the same pattern of incoming stimuli. Such diversity would ensure that a small number of genetically identical neurons could capture and encode many aspects of complex sound, including rapid changes in timing and amplitude. This review covers the modulation of ion channels in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body and how it may maximize the extraction of auditory information.All neurons express a subset of over seventy genes encoding potassium channel subunits. These channels have been studied in auditory neurons, particularly in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body. The amplitude and kinetics of various channels in these neurons can be modified by the auditory environment. It has been suggested that such modulation is an adaptation of neuronal firing patterns to specific patterns of auditory inputs. Alternatively, such modulation may allow a group of neurons, all expressing the same set of channels, to represent a variety of responses to the same pattern of incoming stimuli. Such diversity would ensure that a small number of genetically identical neurons could capture and encode many aspects of complex sound, including rapid changes in timing and amplitude. This review covers the modulation of ion channels in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body and how it may maximize the extraction of auditory information.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 730-736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saikat Saha ◽  
Keka Talukdar ◽  
Amit K. Chakraborty
Keyword(s):  

2014 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 151a
Author(s):  
Sagar Chittori ◽  
Janesh Kumar ◽  
Suvendu Lomash ◽  
Huaying Zhao ◽  
Peter Schuck ◽  
...  

1998 ◽  
Vol 37 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 1381-1391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changhai Cu ◽  
Robert Bähring ◽  
Mark L. Mayer

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