Dendritic Compartment and Neuronal Output Mode Determine Pathway-Specific Long-Term Potentiation in the Piriform Cortex

Journal of Neuroscience 29(43), pp. 13649-13661

Authors: Johenning, F., Beed, P., Trimbuch, T., Bendels, M.H.K., Winterer, J., Schmitz, D.
Year: 2009
Source: Journal of Neuroscience 29(43), pp. 13649-13661
Link: http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/abstract/29/43/13649

Abstract:
The apical dendrite of layer 2/3 pyramidal cells in the piriform cortex receives two spatially distinct inputs: one projecting onto the distal apical dendrite in sensory layer 1a, the other targeting the proximal apical dendrite in layer 1b. We observe an expression gradient of A-type K+ channels that weakens the backpropagating action potential-mediated depolarization in layer 1a compared with layer 1b. We find that the pairing of presynaptic and postsynaptic firing leads to significantly smaller Ca2+ signals in the distal dendritic spines in layer 1a compared with the proximal spines in layer 1b. The consequence is a selective failure to induce long-term potentiation (LTP) in layer 1a, which can be rescued by pharmacological enhancement of action potential backpropagation. In contrast, LTP induction by pairing presynaptic and postsynaptic firing is possible in layer 1b but requires bursting of the postsynaptic cell. This output mode strongly depends on the balance of excitation and inhibition in the piriform cortex. We show, on the single-spine level, how the plasticity of functionally distinct synapses is gated by the intrinsic electrical properties of piriform cortex layer 2 pyramidal cell dendrites and the cellular output mode.

Affiliations: Neuroscience Research Center; Institute for Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Center for Anatomy; Neurophysics Group, Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany

Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2672-09.2009

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