Rhesus Monkey Layer 3 Pyramidal Neurons: Young vs aged PFC (Coskren et al. 2015)

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Accession:168858
Layer 3 (L3) pyramidal neurons in the lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) of rhesus monkeys exhibit dendritic regression, spine loss and increased action potential (AP) firing rates during normal aging. The relationship between these structural and functional alterations, if any, is unknown. Computational models using the digital reconstructions with Hodgkin-Huxley and AMPA channels allowed us to assess relationships between demonstrated age-related changes and to predict physiological changes that have not yet been tested empirically. Tuning passive parameters for each model predicted significantly higher membrane resistance (Rm) in aged versus young neurons. This Rm increase alone did not account for the empirically observed fI-curves, but coupling these Rm values with subtle differences in morphology and membrane capacitance Cm did. The predicted differences in passive parameters (or other parameters with similar effects) are mathematically plausible, but must be tested empirically.
Reference:
1 . Coskren PJ, Luebke JI, Kabaso D, Wearne SL, Yadav A, Rumbell T, Hof PR, Weaver CM (2015) Functional consequences of age-related morphologic changes to pyramidal neurons of the rhesus monkey prefrontal cortex. J Comput Neurosci 38:263-83 [PubMed]
Model Information (Click on a link to find other models with that property)
Model Type: Neuron or other electrically excitable cell;
Brain Region(s)/Organism:
Cell Type(s): Neocortex L2/3 pyramidal GLU cell;
Channel(s): I Na,t; I A; I K; I M; I h; I K,Ca; I Calcium; I_AHP;
Gap Junctions:
Receptor(s):
Gene(s):
Transmitter(s):
Simulation Environment: NEURON;
Model Concept(s): Influence of Dendritic Geometry; Detailed Neuronal Models; Action Potentials; Aging/Alzheimer`s;
Implementer(s): Weaver, Christina [christina.weaver at fandm.edu];
Search NeuronDB for information about:  Neocortex L2/3 pyramidal GLU cell; I Na,t; I A; I K; I M; I h; I K,Ca; I Calcium; I_AHP;
/* Measures mean inward and outward attenuation computed over both apical and
 * dendritic trees, at a range of frequencies.
 */

objref f  // File reference for output
strdef file_name, neuron_name, output_dir, direction, which_secs
objref  m, p, sref // matrix
objref imp  // Impedance object used to calculate attenuation
objref vec  // Vector of impedance results for each segment in the neuron

// Defines voltage_vec and time_vec, vectors that are needed by functions in
// analyticFunctions.hoc.
load_file("actionPotentialPlayer.hoc")

// load_file("readcell.hoc")
load_file("analyticFunctions.hoc")

/*
 * Opens output file; the specific name of the output file is determined by
 * the arguments.
 *
 * Arguments:
 *   $1: frequency at which attenuation is measured
 *   $2: set to 1 if analyzing apical trees, 2 for basal
 *   $3: set to 1 to correct for spines
 *   $4: set to 1 for inward attenuaton, 2 for outward
 */
proc openfile() {
  output_dir = "/Users/pcoskren-sinai/Subversion/WearneLab/Publications/DoronsPaper/Scripts/Output"
  if ($4 == 1) {
    direction = "Inward"
  } else {
    direction = "Outward"
  }
	f = new File()
	if ($2==1 && $3==1) {
			sprint(file_name,"%s/%sNormSumAtten%gHzApicSpiny.txt", output_dir, direction, $1)
		}
	if ($2==1 && $3==2) {
			sprint(file_name,"%s/%sNormSumAtten%gHzApic.txt", output_dir, direction, $1)
		}
	if ($2==2 && $3==1) {
			sprint(file_name,"%s/%sNormSumAtten%gHzBasaSpiny.txt", output_dir, direction, $1)
		}
	if ($2==2 && $3==2) {
			sprint(file_name,"%s/%sNormSumAtten%gHzBasa.txt", output_dir, direction, $1)
		}

  print file_name
	f.wopen(file_name)
}

/* meanInwardAttenuationAllFrequencies: calculates the mean inward attenuation over a range of
 * frequencies form 0 to 500, over the specified cell.
 * Arguments:
 * $o1: soma -> A SectionRef referring to the neuron's soma
 * For inward attenuation, measurement (imp.loc) is at the soma, and
 * voltage clamp (imp.ratio) ranges over the tree.
 */
proc meanInwardAttenuationAllFrequencies() { local freq, i, spine_type,\
                                             real_diam, real_L, ratio \
                                             localobj path, soma, tree_root
  soma = $o1
  tree_root = $o2
  access soma.sec
    nseg = 1
    real_diam = diam(0.5)
    real_L = L
    diam = 2.0 * STD_SOMA
    L = 2.0 * STD_SOMA
  for (freq = 0; freq <= 500; freq += 100) {
    v_init = E_PAS
    finitialize(v_init)
    imp = new Impedance()  // if no arg then this creates one
    soma.sec imp.loc(0.5)
    vec = new Vector()
    dendriticLength = 0
    forsec "dend" {
      for (x) {
        segmentLength = length_origlen(x)
        if (0 != segmentLength) {
          imp.compute(freq)
          ratio = imp.ratio(x)
          if (ratio > 0) {
            logA = log(1 / ratio)
            dendriticLength = dendriticLength + segmentLength
            scaledLogA = logA * segmentLength
            vec.append(scaledLogA)
          } else {
            printf("Warning: negative voltage ratio\n")
          }
        }
      }
    }
    sum_norm = vec.sum() / dendriticLength
    printf("Frequency: %g Inward mean attenuation: %g\n", freq, sum_norm)
  }
  soma.sec {
    diam = real_diam
    L = real_L
  }
}

/* meanOutwardAttenuationAllFrequencies: calculates the mean outward attenuation
 * over a range of frequencies from 0 to 500, for the specified neuron.
 * Arguments:
 * $o1: soma -> A SectionRef referring to the neuron's soma
 *
 * For outward attenuation, voltage clamp (imp.ratio) is at the soma, and
 * measurement (imp.loc) ranges over the tree.
 */
proc meanOutwardAttenuationAllFrequencies() { local freq, i, spine_type, real_diam, real_L, ratio localobj path, soma, tree_root
  soma = $o1
  tree_root = $o2
  soma.sec {
    nseg = 1
    real_diam = diam(0.5)
    real_L = L
    diam = 2.0 * STD_SOMA
    L = 2.0 * STD_SOMA
  }
  for (freq = 0; freq <= 500; freq += 100) {
    access soma.sec

    v_init = E_PAS
    finitialize(v_init)
    imp = new Impedance() // if no arg then this creates one
    vec = new Vector ()
    dendriticLength = 0

    forsec "dend" {
      for(x) {
        segmentLength = length_origlen(x)
        dendriticLength=dendriticLength + segmentLength
        imp.loc(x)
        imp.compute(freq)
        soma.sec ratio = imp.ratio(0.5)
        if (ratio > 0) {
          scaledLogA = log(1/ratio) * segmentLength
          vec.append(scaledLogA)
        } else {
          print "Warning: negative voltage ratio"
        }
      }
    }
    sum_norm = vec.sum()/dendriticLength
    printf("Frequency: %g Outward mean attenuation: %g\n", freq, sum_norm)
  }
  soma.sec {
    diam = real_diam
    L = real_L
  }
}


/*
flag_spines=1  // Spine correction
apic=1  // Apical tree
meanInwardAttenuationAllFrequencies()
meanOutwardAttenuationAllFrequencies()

flag_spines=1  //  Spine correction
apic=2  // Basal tree
meanInwardAttenuationAllFrequencies()
meanOutwardAttenuationAllFrequencies()

flag_spines=2  // No spine correction
apic=1 // Apical tree
meanInwardAttenuationAllFrequencies()
meanOutwardAttenuationAllFrequencies()

flag_spines=2 // No spine correction
apic=2 // Basal tree
meanInwardAttenuationAllFrequencies()
meanOutwardAttenuationAllFrequencies()
*/

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