Abstract
Many neurons exhibit regular firing that is limited to the duration and intensity of depolarizing stimuli. However, some neurons exhibit all-or-nothing plateau potentials that, once elicited, can lead to prolonged activity that is independent of stimulus intensity or duration. To better understand this diversity of information processing, we compared the voltage-gated and Ca2+-gated currents of three identified neurons from hermaphroditicAplysia californica. Two of these neurons, B51 and B64, generated plateau potentials and a third neuron, B8, exhibited regular firing and was incapable of generating a plateau potential. With the exception of the Ca2+-gated potassium current (IKCa), all three neuron types expressed a similar array of outward and inward currents, but with distinct voltage-dependent properties for each neuron type. Inhibiting voltage-gated Ca2+channels with Ni+prolonged the plateau potential, indicatingIKCais important for plateau potential termination. In contrast, inhibiting persistent Na+(INaP) blocked plateau potentials, empirically and in simulations. Surprisingly, the properties and level of expression ofINaPwere similar in all three neurons, indicating that the presence ofINaPdoes not distinguish between regular-firing neurons and neurons capable of generating plateau potentials. Rather, the key distinguishing factor is the relationship betweenINaPand outward currents such as the delayed outward current (ID), andIKCa. We then demonstrated a technique for predicting complex physiological properties such as plateau duration, plateau amplitude, and action potential duration as a function of parameter values, by fitting a curve in parameter space and projecting the curve beyond the tested values.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTPlateau potentials are intrinsic properties of neurons that are important for information processing in a wide variety of nervous systems. We examined three identified neurons inAplysia californicawith different propensities to generate a plateau potential. No single conductance was found to distinguish plateau generating neurons. Instead, plateau generation depended on the ratio between persistent Na+current (INaP), which favored plateaus, and outward currents such asIKCa, which facilitated plateau termination. Computational models revealed a relationship between the individual currents that predicted the features of simulated plateau potentials. These results provide a more solid understanding of the conductances that mediate plateau generation.