Interdependent Conductances Drive Infraslow Intrinsic Rhythmogenesis in a Subset of Accessory Olfactory Bulb Projection Neurons

Authors

M. Gorin, C. Tsitoura, A. Kahan, K. Watznauer, D. R. Drose, M. Arts, R. Mathar, S. O'Connor, I. L. Hanganu-Opatz, Y. Ben-Shaul, M. Spehr,

Abstract

        The accessory olfactory system controls social and sexual behavior. However, key aspects of sensory signaling along the accessory olfactory pathway remain largely unknown. Here, we investigate patterns of spontaneous neuronal activity in mouse accessory olfactory bulb mitral cells, the direct neural link between vomeronasal sensory input and limbic output. Both in vitro and in vivo, we identify a subpopulation of mitral cells that exhibit slow stereotypical rhythmic discharge. In intrinsically rhythmogenic neurons, these periodic activity patterns are maintained in absence of fast synaptic drive. The physiological mechanism underlying mitral cell autorhythmicity involves cyclic activation of three interdependent ionic conductances: subthreshold persistent Na+ current, R-type Ca2+ current, and Ca2+-activated big conductance K+ current. Together, the interplay of these distinct conductances triggers infraslow intrinsic oscillations with remarkable periodicity, a default output state likely to affect sensory processing in limbic circuits.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We show for the first time that some rodent accessory olfactory bulb mitral cells—the direct link between vomeronasal sensory input and limbic output—are intrinsically rhythmogenic. Driven by ≥3 distinct interdependent ionic conductances, infraslow intrinsic oscillations show remarkable periodicity both in vitro and in vivo. As a novel default state, infraslow autorhythmicity is likely to affect limbic processing of pheromonal information.

Keywords

intrinsic oscillations, mitral cell, olfactory bulb, pacemaker, rhythmogenesis, vomeronasal system

PubMed Identifier: 26985025

The Journal of Neuroscience, 16 March 2016, 36(11):i

BibTEX Reference Entry 

@article{GoTsKaWaDrArMaO'HaBeSp16,
	author = {Monika Gorin and Chryssanthi Tsitoura and Anat Kahan and Katja Watznauer and Daniela Ricarda Drose and Martijn Arts and Rudolf Mathar and Simon O'Connor and Ileana Livia Hanganu-Opatz and Yoram Ben-Shaul and Marc Spehr},
	title = "Interdependent Conductances Drive Infraslow Intrinsic Rhythmogenesis in a Subset of Accessory Olfactory Bulb Projection Neurons",
	pages = "3127-3144",
	journal = "The Journal of Neuroscience",
	volume = "36",
	number = "11",
	doi = 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2520-15.2016,
	month = Mar,
	year = 2016,
	hsb = RWTH-2016-02713,
	}

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