The Effects of NMDA Subunit Composition on Calcium Influx and Spike Timing-Dependent Plasticity in Striatal Medium Spiny Neurons

Calcium through NMDA receptors (NMDARs) is necessary for the long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic strength; however, NMDARs differ in several properties that can influence the amount of calcium influx into the spine. These properties, such as sensitivity to magnesium block and conductance decay kinetics, change the receptor's response to spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP) protocols, and thereby shape synaptic integration and information processing. This study investigates the role of GluN2 subunit differences on spine calcium concentration during several STDP protocols in a model of a striatal medium spiny projection neuron (MSPN). The multi-compartment, multi-channel model exhibits firing frequency, spike width, and latency to first spike similar to current clamp data from mouse dorsal striatum MSPN. We find that NMDAR-mediated calcium is dependent on GluN2 subunit type, action potential timing, duration of somatic depolarization, and number of action potentials. Furthermore, the model demonstrates that in MSPNs, GluN2A and GluN2B control which STDP intervals allow for substantial calcium elevation in spines. The model predicts that blocking GluN2B subunits would modulate the range of intervals that cause long term potentiation. We confirmed this prediction experimentally, demonstrating that blocking GluN2B in the striatum, narrows the range of STDP intervals that cause long term potentiation. This ability of the GluN2 subunit to modulate the shape of the STDP curve could underlie the role that GluN2 subunits play in learning and development

Excitability range of medium spiny neurons widens through the combined effects of inward rectifying potassium current inactivation and dopaminergic modulation

Due to the involvement of nucleus accumbens (NAc) medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in diverse behaviors, their excitability changes can have broad functional significance. Dopamine modulates the biophysical behavior of MSNs. In similar to 40% of MSNs, inward rectifying potassium (K(IR)) currents inactivate significantly, imparting greater excitability. Employing a 189-compartment computational model of the MSN and using spatiotemporally distributed synaptic inputs, the regulation of excitability by K(IR) inactivation and dopaminergic modulation was investigated and quantitatively characterized. It was shown that by forming different combinations, these regulating agents could fine tune MSN excitability across a wide range. With existing evidence indicating MSNs with and without K(IR) inactivation to be the likely targets for D2- and D1-receptor mediated modulations, respectively, the present findings suggest that dopaminergic channel modulation may intensify the existing excitability difference between them by suppressing the excitability of MSNs without K(IR) inactivation while further enhancing the excitability of the more excitable MSNs with K(IR) inactivation. On the other hand, the combined modulation of channels and synapses by dopamine may reverse the relative excitability of one cell type with respect to the other. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Differences in biophysical properties of nucleus accumbens medium spiny neurons emerging from inactivation of inward rectifying potassium currents

Inward rectifying potassium (K(IR)) currents in medium spiny (MS) neurons of nucleus accumbens inactivate significantly in similar to 40% of the neurons but not in the rest, which may lead to differences in input processing by these two groups. Using a 189-compartment computational model of the MS neuron, we investigate the influence of this property using injected current as well as spatiotemporally distributed synaptic inputs. Our study demonstrates that K(IR) current inactivation facilitates depolarization, firing frequency and firing onset in these neurons. These effects may be attributed to the higher input resistance of the cell as well as a more depolarized resting/down-state potential induced by the inactivation of this current. In view of the reports that dendritic intracellular calcium levels depend closely on burst strength and spike onset time, our findings suggest that inactivation of K(IR) currents may offer a means of modulating both excitability and synaptic plasticity in MS neurons