Human L2/3 pyramidal cells with low Cm values (Eyal et al. 2016)

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Accession:195667
The advanced cognitive capabilities of the human brain are often attributed to our recently evolved neocortex. However, it is not known whether the basic building blocks of human neocortex, the pyramidal neurons, possess unique biophysical properties that might impact on cortical computations. Here we show that layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons from human temporal cortex (HL2/3 PCs) have a specific membrane capacitance (Cm) of ~0.5 µF/cm2, half of the commonly accepted “universal” value (~1 µF/cm2) for biological membranes. This finding was predicted by fitting in vitro voltage transients to theoretical transients then validated by direct measurement of Cm in nucleated patch experiments. Models of 3D reconstructed HL2/3 PCs demonstrated that such low Cm value significantly enhances both synaptic charge-transfer from dendrites to soma and spike propagation along the axon. This is the first demonstration that human cortical neurons have distinctive membrane properties, suggesting important implications for signal processing in human neocortex.
Reference:
1 . Eyal G, Verhoog MB, Testa-Silva G, Deitcher Y, Lodder JC, Benavides-Piccione R, Morales J, DeFelipe J, de Kock CP, Mansvelder HD, Segev I (2016) Unique membrane properties and enhanced signal processing in human neocortical neurons. Elife [PubMed]
Model Information (Click on a link to find other models with that property)
Model Type: Dendrite;
Brain Region(s)/Organism: Neocortex;
Cell Type(s): Neocortex L2/3 pyramidal GLU cell;
Channel(s):
Gap Junctions:
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Simulation Environment: Python; NEURON;
Model Concept(s): Action Potential Initiation; Parameter Fitting; Membrane Properties;
Implementer(s): Eyal, Guy [guy.eyal at mail.huji.ac.il];
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