Presynaptic rat Kv1.2 channels suppress synaptic terminal hyperexcitability following action potential invasion.

Dodson PD
Billups B
Rusznák Z
Szûcs G
Barker MC
Forsythe ID
Scientific Abstract

Voltage-gated K+ channels activating close to resting membrane potentials are widely expressed and differentially located in axons, presynaptic terminals and cell bodies. There is extensive evidence for localisation of Kv1 subunits at many central synaptic terminals but few clues to their presynaptic function. We have used the calyx of Held to investigate the role of presynaptic Kv1 channels in the rat by selectively blocking Kv1.1 and Kv1.2 containing channels with dendrotoxin-K (DTX-K) and tityustoxin-Kalpha (TsTX-Kalpha) respectively. We show that Kv1.2 homomers are responsible for two-thirds of presynaptic low threshold current, whilst Kv1.1/Kv1.2 heteromers contribute the remaining current. These channels are located in the transition zone between the axon and synaptic terminal, contrasting with the high threshold K+ channel subunit Kv3.1 which is located on the synaptic terminal itself. Kv1 homomers were absent from bushy cell somata (from which the calyx axons arise); instead somatic low threshold channels consisted of heteromers containing Kv1.1, Kv1.2 and Kv1.6 subunits. Current-clamp recording from the calyx showed that each presynaptic action potential (AP) was followed by a depolarising after-potential (DAP) lasting around 50 ms. Kv1.1/Kv1.2 heteromers had little influence on terminal excitability, since DTX-K did not alter AP firing. However TsTX-Kalpha increased DAP amplitude, bringing the terminal closer to threshold for generating an additional AP. Paired pre- and postsynaptic recordings confirmed that this aberrant AP evoked an excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC). We conclude that Kv1.2 channels have a general presynaptic function in suppressing terminal hyperexcitability during the depolarising after-potential.

Citation

2003.J. Physiol. (Lond.), 550(Pt 1):27-33.

Related Content
Publication
Sermon JJ, Benjaber M, Duchet B, Anso J, Olaru M, Starr P, Denison T
2024. Brain Stimul, 17(2):149-151.
Publication
Bogacz R
2020. eLife, 9:e53262
Publication
Aron AR, Herz DM, Brown P, Forstmann BU, Zaghloul KA

2016.J. Neurosci., 36(45):11489-11495.

Publication
van Swieten MMH, Bogacz R, Manohar S

2021. Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci, 21(6):1196-1206.

Publication
Syed EC, Grima LL, Magill PJ, Bogacz R, Brown P, Walton ME
2016.Nat. Neurosci., 19(1):34-6.