Effect of simple spike firing mode on complex spike firing rate and waveform in cerebellar Purkinje cells in non-anesthetized mice

Abstract

Cerebellar Purkinje cells receive two different excitatory inputs from parallel and climbing fibers, causing simple and complex spikes, respectively. Purkinje cells present three modes of simple spike firing, namely tonic, silent and bursting. The influence of complex spike firing on simple spike firing has been extensively studied. However, it is unknown whether and how the simple spike firing mode may influence complex spike waveform and firing rate in vivo. We studied complex spike firing during tonic and silent mode periods in non-anesthetized mice. We found that complex spike firing rate is not influenced by simple spike firing modes, but that the complex spike waveform is altered following high frequency simple spike firing. This alteration is a specific decrement of the second depolarizing component of the complex spike. We demonstrate that the amplitude of the second depolarizing component is inversely proportional to the simple spike firing rate preceding the complex spike and that this amplitude is independent of previous complex spike firing. This waveform modulation is different from previously reported modulation in paired-pulse depression and refractoriness.