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The Journal of Neuroscience, August 29, 2007, 27(35):9491-9502; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1106-07.2007

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Behavioral/Systems/Cognitive
SK Channels Provide a Novel Mechanism for the Control of Frequency Tuning in Electrosensory Neurons

Lee D. Ellis,^1 * W. Hamish Mehaffey,^2 * Erik Harvey-Girard,³ Ray W. Turner,² Leonard Maler,³ and Robert J. Dunn¹

¹Center for Research in Neuroscience and Departments of Biology and Neurology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1A4, ²Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4N1, and ³Department of Cell and Molecular Medicine and Center for Neural Dynamics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8M5

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Robert J. Dunn at the above address. Email: rob.dunn{at}mcgill.ca

One important characteristic of sensory input is frequency, with sensory neurons often tuned to narrow stimulus frequency ranges. Although vital for many neural computations, the cellular basis of such frequency tuning remains mostly unknown. In the electrosensory system of Apteronotus leptorhynchus, the primary processing of important environmental and communication signals occurs in pyramidal neurons of the electrosensory lateral line lobe. Spike trains transmitted by these cells can encode low-frequency prey stimuli with bursts of spikes and high-frequency communication signals with single spikes. Here, we demonstrate that the selective expression of SK2 channels in a subset of pyramidal neurons reduces their response to low-frequency stimuli by opposing their burst responses. Apamin block of the SK2 current in this subset of cells induced bursting and increased their response to low-frequency inputs. SK channel expression thus provides an intrinsic mechanism that predisposes a neuron to respond to higher frequencies and thus specific, behaviorally relevant stimuli.

Key words: SK channels; frequency tuning; electric fish; sensory processing; pyramidal neurons; bursting

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Received March 12, 2007; revised July 5, 2007; accepted July 12, 2007.

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Robert J. Dunn at the above address. Email: rob.dunn{at}mcgill.ca

This article has been cited by other articles:

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