Distinct Firing Properties of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide-Expressing Neurons in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

Overview

Journal J Biol Rhythms

Date 2015 Dec 30

PMID 26712166

Citations 20

Authors

Tracey O Hermanstyne

Carrie L Simms

Yarimar Carrasquillo

Erik D Herzog

Jeanne M Nerbonne

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) regulates daily rhythms in physiology and behavior. Previous studies suggest a critical role for neurons expressing vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in coordinating rhythmicity and synchronization in the SCN. Here we examined the firing properties of VIP-expressing SCN neurons in acute brain slices. Active and passive membrane properties were measured in VIP and in non-VIP neurons during the day and at night. Current-clamp recordings revealed that both VIP and non-VIP neurons were spontaneously active, with higher firing rates during the day than at night. Average firing frequencies, however, were higher in VIP neurons (3.1 ± 0.2 Hz, day and 2.4 ± 0.2 Hz, night) than in non-VIP neurons (1.8 ± 0.2 Hz, day and 0.9 ± 0.2 Hz, night), both day and night. The waveforms of individual action potentials in VIP and non-VIP neurons were also distinct. Action potential durations (APD50) were shorter in VIP neurons (3.6 ± 0.1 ms, day and 2.9 ± 0.1 ms, night) than in non-VIP neurons (4.4 ± 0.3 ms, day and 3.5 ± 0.2 ms, night) throughout the light-dark cycle. In addition, afterhyperpolarization (AHP) amplitudes were larger in VIP neurons (21 ± 0.8 mV, day and 24.9 ± 0.9 mV, night) than in non-VIP neurons (17.2 ± 1.1 mV, day and 20.5 ± 1.2 mV, night) during the day and at night. Furthermore, significant day/night differences were observed in APD50 and AHP amplitudes in both VIP and non-VIP SCN neurons, consistent with rhythmic changes in ionic conductances that contribute to shaping the firing properties of both cell types. The higher day and night firing rates of VIP neurons likely contribute to synchronizing electrical activity in the SCN.

Citing Articles

Kv12-encoded K+ channels drive the day-night switch in the repetitive firing rates of SCN neurons.

Hermanstyne T, Yang N, Granados-Fuentes D, Li X, Mellor R, Jegla T J Gen Physiol. 2023; 155(9).

PMID: 37516908 PMC: 10373311. DOI: 10.1085/jgp.202213310.

Effects of NALCN-Encoded Na Leak Currents on the Repetitive Firing Properties of SCN Neurons Depend on K-Driven Rhythmic Changes in Input Resistance.

Yang N, Mellor R, Hermanstyne T, Nerbonne J J Neurosci. 2023; 43(28):5132-5141.

PMID: 37339878 PMC: 10342223. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0182-23.2023.

Plasticity manifolds and degeneracy govern circadian oscillations of neuronal intrinsic properties in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Nagaraj H, Narayanan R iScience. 2023; 26(4):106503.

PMID: 37123240 PMC: 10139998. DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106503.

Kv12-Encoded K Channels Drive the Day-Night Switch in the Repetitive Firing Rates of SCN Neurons.

Hermanstyne T, Yang N, Granados-Fuentes D, Li X, Mellor R, Jegla T bioRxiv. 2023; .

PMID: 36778242 PMC: 9915524. DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.30.526323.

The role of the cardiomyocyte circadian clocks in ion channel regulation and cardiac electrophysiology.

Schroder E, Ono M, Johnson S, Rozmus E, Burgess D, Esser K J Physiol. 2022; 600(9):2037-2048.

PMID: 35301719 PMC: 9980729. DOI: 10.1113/JP282402.

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