Abstract
THE dendrites of many types of neurons contain voltage-dependent Na+ and Ca2+ conductances that generate action potentials (see ref. 1 for review). The function of these spikes is not well understood, but the Ca2+ entry stimulated by spikes probably affects Ca2+-dependent processes in dendrites. These include synaptic plasticity2,3, cytotoxicity4 and exocytosis5. Several lines of evidence suggest that dendritic spikes occur within subregions of the den-drites6–8. To study the mechanism that govern the spread of spikes in the dendrites of hippocampal pyramidal cells, we imaged Ca2+ entry with Fura-2 (ref. 9) and Na+ entry with a newly developed Na+-sensitive dye10. Our results indicate that Ca2+ entry into dendrites is triggered by Na+ spikes that actively invade the dendrites. The restricted spatial distribution of Ca2–1 entry seems to depend on the spread of Na+ spikes in the dendrites, rather than on a limited distribution of Ca2+ channels. In addition, we have observed an activity-dependent process that modulates the invasion of spikes into the dendrites and progressively restricts Ca2+ entry to more proximal dendritic regions.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Llinas, R. R. Science 242, 1654–1664 (1988).
Malenka, R. C., Kauer, J. A., Zucker, R. S. & Nicoll, R. A. Science 242, 81–84 (1988).
Lynch, G., Larson, J., Kelso, S., Barrionuevo, G. & Schottler, F. Nature 305, 719–721 (1983).
Choi, D. W. Trends Neurosci. 11, 465–469 (1988).
Llinas, R. & Greenfield, S. A. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 3047–3050 (1987).
Miyakawa, H. & Kato, H. Brain Res. 399, 303–309 (1986).
Turner, R. W., Meyers, D. E. R. & Barker, J. L. J. Neurophysiol. 62, 1375–1387 (1989).
Ross, W. N., Lasser-Ross, N. & Werman, R. Proc. R. Soc. 240, 173–185 (1990).
Grynkiewicz, G., Poenie, M. & Tsien, R. Y. J. biol. Chem. 260, 3440–3450 (1985).
Minta, A. & Tsien, R. Y. J. biol. Chem. 264, 19449–19457 (1989).
Lasser-Ross, N., Miyakawa, H., Lev-Ram, V., Young, S. R. & Ross, W. N. J. neurosci. Meth. 36, 253–261 (1991).
Regehr, W. G., Connor, J. A. & Tank, D. W. Nature 341, 533–536 (1989).
Westenbroek, R. E., Ahlijanian, M. K. & Catterall, W. A. Nature 347, 281–284 (1990).
Turner, R. W., Meyers, D. E. R., Richardson, T. L. & Barker, J. L. J. Neurosci. 11, 2270–2280 (1991).
Sah, P., Hestrin, S. & Nicoll, R. A. Science 246, 815–818 (1989).
Lasser-Ross, N. & Ross, W. N. Proc. R. Soc. 247, 35–39 (1992).
Andersen, P., Storm, J. & Wheal, H. V. J. Physiol., Lond. 383, 509–526 (1987).
Wong, R. K. S. & Prince, D. A. Science 204, 1228–1231 (1979).
Masukawa, L. M. & Prince, D. A. J. Neurosci. 4, 217–227 (1984).
Johnston, D. & Brown, T. H. J. Neurophysiol. 50, 464–486 (1983).
Ross, W. N., Jaffe, D., Lasser-Ross, N., Lisman, J. & Johnston, D. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 17, 581 (1991).
Lancaster, B. & Adams, P. R. J. Neurophysiol. 55, 1268–1282 (1986).
Lisman, J. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86, 9574–9578 (1989).
Steward, O. J. comp. Neurol. 167, 285–314 (1976).
Amaral, D. G. & Witter, M. P. Neuroscience 31, 571–591 (1989).
Jaffe, D. & Johnston, D. J. Neurophysiol. 64, 948–960 (1990).
Lev-Ram, V., Miyakawa, H., Lasser-Ross, N. & Ross, W. N. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 16, 894 (1990).
Blaustein, M. P. Trends Neurosci. 11, 438–443 (1988).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jaffe, D., Johnston, D., Lasser-Ross, N. et al. The spread of Na+ spikes determines the pattern of dendritic Ca2+ entry into hippocampal neurons. Nature 357, 244–246 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/357244a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/357244a0
This article is cited by
-
Stores, Channels, Glue, and Trees: Active Glial and Active Dendritic Physiology
Molecular Neurobiology (2019)
-
Dendritic sodium spikes endow neurons with inverse firing rate response to correlated synaptic activity
Journal of Computational Neuroscience (2018)
-
Branch-specific dendritic Ca2+ spikes cause persistent synaptic plasticity
Nature (2015)
-
Dendritic integration: 60 years of progress
Nature Neuroscience (2015)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.