Faculty Collaboration Database

Rhythmic intrinsic bursting neurons in human neocortex obtained from pediatric patients with epilepsy. Eur J Neurosci 2011 Jul;34(1):31-44

Date

07/05/2011

Pubmed ID

21722205

DOI

10.1111/j.1460-9568.2011.07746.x

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-79960011133 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   12 Citations

Abstract

Neocortical oscillations result from synchronized activity of a synaptically coupled network and can be strongly influenced by the intrinsic firing properties of individual neurons. As such, the intrinsic electroresponsive properties of individual neurons may have important implications for overall network function. Rhythmic intrinsic bursting (rIB) neurons are of particular interest, as they are poised to initiate and/or strongly influence network oscillations. Although neocortical rIB neurons have been recognized in multiple species, the current study is the first to identify and characterize rIB neurons in the human neocortex. Using whole-cell current-clamp recordings, rIB neurons (n = 12) are identified in human neocortical tissue resected from pediatric patients with intractable epilepsy. In contrast to human regular spiking neurons (n = 12), human rIB neurons exhibit rhythmic bursts of action potentials at frequencies of 0.1-4 Hz. These bursts persist after blockade of fast excitatory neurotransmission and voltage-gated calcium channels. However, bursting is eliminated by subsequent application of the persistent sodium current (I(NaP)) blocker, riluzole. In the presence of riluzole (either 10 or 20 μm), human rIB neurons no longer burst, but fire tonically like regular spiking neurons. These data demonstrate that I(NaP) plays a critical role in intrinsic oscillatory activity observed in rIB neurons in the human neocortex. It is hypothesized that aberrant changes in I(NaP) expression and/or function may ultimately contribute to neurological diseases that are linked to abnormal network activity, such as epilepsy.

Author List

Tryba AK, Kaczorowski CC, Ben-Mabrouk F, Elsen FP, Lew SM, Marcuccilli CJ

Author

Sean Lew MD Chief, Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Action Potentials
Adolescent
Animals
Anticonvulsants
Calcium Channels
Child
Child, Preschool
Electrodes
Epilepsy
Female
Humans
Infant
Male
Neocortex
Nerve Net
Neurons
Patch-Clamp Techniques
Periodicity
Riluzole
Sodium Channels