A simulation study on the effects of dendritic morphology on layer V PFC pyramidal cell firing behavior

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event A simulation study on the effects of dendritic morphology on layer V PFC pyramidal cell firing behavior Maria Psarrou1, 2, 3, Stefanos Stefanou1, Alexandra Tzilivaki1, 4, Athanasia Papoutsi1, Vassilis Cutsuridis1 and Panayiota Poirazi1* 1 Foundation of Research and Technology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechonogy, Greece 2 Science and Technology Research Institute, United Kingdom 3 University of Hertfordshire, School of Computer Science, United Kingdom 4 University of Crete, Department of Biology, Greece The majority of neuronal cells found in the cerebral cortex are pyramidal neurons. Their function has been associated with higher cognitive and emotional functions. Pyramidal neurons have a characteristic structure, consisting of a triangular shaped soma whereon descend two extended and complex dendritic trees, and a long bifurcated axon. All the morphological components of the pyramidal neurons exhibit significant variability across different brain areas and layers. Pyramidal cells receive numerous synaptic inputs along their structure, integration of which in space and in time generates local dendritic spikes that shape their firing pattern. In addition, synaptic integration is influenced by voltage-gated and ion channels, which are expressed in a large repertoire by pyramidal neurons. Electrophysiological categories of pyramidal cells can be established, based on the action potential frequency, generated from a fixed somatic stimulus: (1) cells that fire repetitive action potentials (Regular Spiking – RS), (2) cells that fire clusters of 2 – 5 action potentials with short ISIs (Intrinsic Bursting – IB), and (3) cells that fire in repetitive clusters of 2 – 5 action potentials with short ISIs (Repetitive Oscillatory Bursts – ROB). In vitro and in silico scientific studies, correlate the firing patterns of the pyramidal neurons to their morphological features. This study provides a quantitatively analysis via compartmental neuronal modelling of the effects of dendritic morphology and distribution and concentration of ionic mechanisms, along the basal and/or apical dendrites on the firing behavior of a 112-set of layer V rat PFC pyramidal cells. We focus on how particular morphological and passive features of the dendritic trees shape the neuronal firing patterns. Our results suggest that specific morphological parameters (such as total length, volume and branch number) can discriminate the cells as RS or IB, regardless of what is the distribution and concentration of ionic mechanisms along the dendritic trees. Moreover, varying combinations of the basal, the apical or both dendritic tree plexus produce different cell type percentages. Consequently, it appears that variations on the dendritic size and dendritic topology of the pyramidal cells influence their firing patterns and subsequently may influence the information coding that these neurons support. Keywords: Dendrites, PFC, morphology, pyramidal cell, Single neuron modeling, firing pattern Conference: 4th NAMASEN Training Workshop - Dendrites 2014, Heraklion, Greece, 1 Jul - 4 Jul, 2014. Presentation Type: Poster presentation Topic: morphological and functional characterizations Citation: Psarrou M, Stefanou S, Tzilivaki A, Papoutsi A, Cutsuridis V and Poirazi P (2014). A simulation study on the effects of dendritic morphology on layer V PFC pyramidal cell firing behavior. Front. Syst. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: 4th NAMASEN Training Workshop - Dendrites 2014. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnsys.2014.05.00023 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 11 Apr 2014; Published Online: 12 Jun 2014. * Correspondence: Dr. Panayiota Poirazi, Foundation of Research and Technology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechonogy, Heraklion, Crete, 70013, Greece, poirazi@imbb.forth.gr Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Maria Psarrou Stefanos Stefanou Alexandra Tzilivaki Athanasia Papoutsi Vassilis Cutsuridis Panayiota Poirazi Google Maria Psarrou Stefanos Stefanou Alexandra Tzilivaki Athanasia Papoutsi Vassilis Cutsuridis Panayiota Poirazi Google Scholar Maria Psarrou Stefanos Stefanou Alexandra Tzilivaki Athanasia Papoutsi Vassilis Cutsuridis Panayiota Poirazi PubMed Maria Psarrou Stefanos Stefanou Alexandra Tzilivaki Athanasia Papoutsi Vassilis Cutsuridis Panayiota Poirazi Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.