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Bell JM, Lorenz C, Jones KE. Nerve excitability differences in slow and fast motor axons of the rat: more than just Ih. J Neurophysiol 2019; 122:1728-1734. [PMID: 31533011 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00269.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective was to determine biophysical differences between fast and slow motor axons using threshold tracking and demonstrate confounds related to anesthetic. Nerve excitability of motor axons innervating the slow-twitch soleus (SOL) and fast-twitch tibialis anterior (TA) muscles was tested. The experiments were conducted with pentobarbital sodium (SP) anesthetic and compared with previous results that used ketamine-xylazine (KX). Nerve excitability indices measured with SP show definitive differences between TA and SOL motor axons that extend beyond previous reports. Nerve excitability indices sensitive to changes in Ih indicated an increase in SOL axons compared with TA axons [e.g., S3 t = 7.949 (df = 10), P < 0.001; hyperpolarizing threshold electrotonus (90-100 ms), t = 2.659 (df = 20); P = 0.01; hyperpolarizing I/V slope, t = 4.308 (df = 19); P < 0.001]. SOL axons also had a longer strength-duration time constant [t = 3.35 (df = 20); P = 0.003] and a longer and larger magnitude relative refractory period [RRP (ms) t = 3.53 (df = 12); P = 0.004; Refractoriness at 2 ms, t = 0.0055 (df = 9); P = 0.006]. Anesthetic choice affected many measures of peripheral nerve excitability with differences most apparent in tests of threshold electrotonus and recovery cycle. For example, recovery cycle with KX lacked a clear superexcitable and late subexcitable period. We conclude that KX had a confounding effect on nerve excitability results consistent with ischemic depolarization. Results using SP revealed the full extent of differences in nerve excitability measures between putative slow and fast motor axons of the rat. These results provide empirical evidence, beyond conduction velocity, that the biophysical properties of motor axons vary with the type of muscle fiber innervated. These differences suggest that fast axons may be predisposed to dysfunction during hyperpolarizing stresses, e.g., electrogenic sodium pumping following sustained impulse conduction.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Nerve excitability testing is a tool used to provide insight into the properties of ion channels in peripheral nerves. It is used clinically to assess pathophysiology of axons. Researchers customarily think of motor axons as homogeneous; however, we demonstrate there are clear differences between fast and slow axons in the rat. This is important for interpreting results with selective motor neuronopathy, like aging where fast axons are at high risk of degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Bell
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Chad Lorenz
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kelvin E Jones
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Byczkowicz N, Eshra A, Montanaro J, Trevisiol A, Hirrlinger J, Kole MHP, Shigemoto R, Hallermann S. HCN channel-mediated neuromodulation can control action potential velocity and fidelity in central axons. eLife 2019; 8:e42766. [PMID: 31496517 PMCID: PMC6733576 DOI: 10.7554/elife.42766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic-nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels control electrical rhythmicity and excitability in the heart and brain, but the function of HCN channels at the subcellular level in axons remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the action potential conduction velocity in both myelinated and unmyelinated central axons can be bidirectionally modulated by a HCN channel blocker, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and neuromodulators. Recordings from mouse cerebellar mossy fiber boutons show that HCN channels ensure reliable high-frequency firing and are strongly modulated by cAMP (EC50 40 µM; estimated endogenous cAMP concentration 13 µM). In addition, immunogold-electron microscopy revealed HCN2 as the dominating subunit in cerebellar mossy fibers. Computational modeling indicated that HCN2 channels control conduction velocity primarily by altering the resting membrane potential and are associated with significant metabolic costs. These results suggest that the cAMP-HCN pathway provides neuromodulators with an opportunity to finely tune energy consumption and temporal delays across axons in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Byczkowicz
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Medical FacultyUniversity LeipzigLeipzigGermany
| | - Abdelmoneim Eshra
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Medical FacultyUniversity LeipzigLeipzigGermany
| | | | - Andrea Trevisiol
- Department of NeurogeneticsMax-Planck-Institute for Experimental MedicineGöttingenGermany
| | - Johannes Hirrlinger
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Medical FacultyUniversity LeipzigLeipzigGermany
- Department of NeurogeneticsMax-Planck-Institute for Experimental MedicineGöttingenGermany
| | - Maarten HP Kole
- Department of Axonal Signaling, Netherlands Institute for NeuroscienceRoyal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesAmsterdamNetherlands
- Cell Biology, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of UtrechtPadualaanNetherlands
| | - Ryuichi Shigemoto
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria)KlosterneuburgAustria
| | - Stefan Hallermann
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Medical FacultyUniversity LeipzigLeipzigGermany
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Marmoy OR, Furlong PL, Moore CEG. Upper and lower limb motor axons demonstrate differential excitability and accommodation to strong hyperpolarizing currents during induced hyperthermia. J Neurophysiol 2019; 121:2061-2070. [PMID: 30917073 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00464.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Length-dependent peripheral neuropathy typically involves the insidious onset of sensory loss in the lower limbs before later progressing proximally. Recent evidence proposes hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels as dysfunctional in rodent models of peripheral neuropathy, and therefore differential expression of HCN channels in the lower limbs was hypothesized as a pathophysiological mechanism accounting for the pattern of symptomatology within this study. We studied six healthy participants, using motor axon excitability including strong and long [-70% and -100% hyperpolarizing threshold electrotonus (TEh)] hyperpolarizing currents to preferably study HCN channel function from the median and tibial nerves from high (40%) and low (20%) threshold. This was recorded at normothermia (~32°C) and then repeated during hyperthermia (~40°C) as an artificial hyperpolarizing axon stress. Significant differences between recovery cycle, superexcitability, accommodation to small depolarizing currents, and alterations in late stages of the inward-rectifying currents of strongest (-70% and -100% TEh) currents were observed in the lower limbs during hyperthermia. We demonstrate differences in late IH current flow, which implies higher expression of HCN channel isoforms. The findings also indicate their potential inference in the symptomatology of length-dependent peripheral neuropathies and may be a unique target for minimizing symptomatology and pathogenesis in acquired disease. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates nerve excitability differences between the upper and lower limbs during hyperthermia, an experimentally induced axonal stress. The findings indicate that there is differential expression of slow hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel isoforms between the upper and lower limbs, which was demonstrated through strong, long hyperpolarizing currents during hyperthermia. Such mechanisms may underlie postural control but render the lower limbs susceptible to dysfunction in disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver R Marmoy
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Portsmouth , United Kingdom.,Aston University , Birmingham , United Kingdom
| | | | - Christopher E G Moore
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Portsmouth , United Kingdom
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Klein CS, Zhao CN, Liu H, Zhou P. Differences in excitability properties between medial gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and abductor pollicis brevis motor axons. Muscle Nerve 2017. [PMID: 28621464 DOI: 10.1002/mus.25722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Excitability properties of motor nerves to different muscles are different, but the explanation is uncertain. We characterized motor axon excitability properties to the medial gastrocnemius (MG) in 27 adults, and made comparisons with the peroneal nerve to the tibialis anterior (TA) and median nerve to the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) in 10 subjects. METHODS Recordings of multiple excitability properties were made using threshold tracking, stimulating the nerves at the wrist or knee. RESULTS Threshold electrotonus and superexcitability differed between nerves (APB>MG>TA axons) that may reflect differences in fast K+ conductance. APB axons had larger S2 accommodation and undershoot than TA and MG axons, indicating greater slow K+ conductance. TA axons demonstrated greater accommodation during hyperpolarizing currents than MG and APB axons, suggestive of greater inwardly rectifying current. DISCUSSION Inherent differences in several conductances underlie nerve differences in excitability, presumably related to muscle or motoneuron properties. Muscle Nerve 57: E60-E69, 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cliff S Klein
- Guangdong Work Injury Rehabilitation Center, 68 Qide Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China, 510440
| | - Chen Ning Zhao
- Guangdong Work Injury Rehabilitation Center, 68 Qide Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China, 510440
| | - Hui Liu
- Guangdong Work Injury Rehabilitation Center, 68 Qide Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China, 510440
| | - Ping Zhou
- Guangdong Work Injury Rehabilitation Center, 68 Qide Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China, 510440.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA, 77030
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Hegle AP, Frank CA, Berndt A, Klose M, Allan DW, Accili EA. The Ih Channel Gene Promotes Synaptic Transmission and Coordinated Movement in Drosophila melanogaster. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:41. [PMID: 28286469 PMCID: PMC5323408 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated “HCN” channels, which underlie the hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih), have been proposed to play diverse roles in neurons. The presynaptic HCN channel is thought to both promote and inhibit neurotransmitter release from synapses, depending upon its interactions with other presynaptic ion channels. In larvae of Drosophila melanogaster, inhibition of the presynaptic HCN channel by the drug ZD7288 reduces the enhancement of neurotransmitter release at motor terminals by serotonin but this drug has no effect on basal neurotransmitter release, implying that the channel does not contribute to firing under basal conditions. Here, we show that genetic disruption of the sole HCN gene (Ih) reduces the amplitude of the evoked response at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) of third instar larvae by decreasing the number of released vesicles. The anatomy of the (NMJ) is not notably affected by disruption of the Ih gene. We propose that the presynaptic HCN channel is active under basal conditions and promotes neurotransmission at larval motor terminals. Finally, we demonstrate that Ih partial loss-of-function mutant adult flies have impaired locomotion, and, thus, we hypothesize that the presynaptic HCN channel at the (NMJ) may contribute to coordinated movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Hegle
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - C Andrew Frank
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Iowa Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Anthony Berndt
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Markus Klose
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Douglas W Allan
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Eric A Accili
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Mohan R, Tosolini A, Morris R. Segmental distribution of the motor neuron columns that supply the rat hindlimb: A muscle/motor neuron tract-tracing analysis targeting the motor end plates. Neuroscience 2015; 307:98-108. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2015] [Revised: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Piotrkiewicz M, Bawa PNS, Schmied A. Mechanisms underlying firing in healthy and sick human motoneurons. Front Hum Neurosci 2015; 9:174. [PMID: 25870558 PMCID: PMC4378278 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2015.00174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Piotrkiewicz
- Engineering of Nervous and Muscular System, Nałęcz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences Warsaw, Poland
| | - Parveen N S Bawa
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Annie Schmied
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Plasticité et Pathophysiologie du Mouvement, Institut de Neuroscience de la Timone, University Aix Marseilles Marseille, France
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