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SK2 channel expression and function in cerebellar Purkinje cells
Author(s) -
Hosy Eric,
Piochon Claire,
Teuling Eva,
Rinaldo Lorenzo,
Hansel Christian
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.205823
Subject(s) - afterhyperpolarization , neuroscience , excitatory postsynaptic potential , long term potentiation , sk channel , synaptic plasticity , postsynaptic potential , biology , purkinje cell , electrophysiology , cerebellum , chemistry , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , ion channel , receptor , biochemistry
Small‐conductance calcium‐activated K + channels (SK channels) regulate the excitability of neurons and their responsiveness to synaptic input patterns. SK channels contribute to the afterhyperpolarization (AHP) following action potential bursts, and curtail excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in neuronal dendrites. Here we review evidence that SK2 channels are expressed in rat cerebellar Purkinje cells during development and throughout adulthood, and play a key role in diverse cellular processes such as the regulation of the spike firing frequency and the modulation of calcium transients in dendritic spines. In Purkinje cells as well as in other types of neurons, SK2 channel plasticity seems to provide an important mechanism allowing these cells to adjust their intrinsic excitability and to alter the probabilities for the induction of synaptic learning correlates, such as long‐term potentiation (LTP).