Gamma-band absence and abnormal thalamo-cortical activity in P/Q-type channel mutant mice.

LLINAS RR, CHOI S, URBANO FJ & SHIN H-S.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA

National Academy of Sciences, USA

Lugar: Washington DC, USA; Año: 2007 vol. 104 p. 17819 - 17824

Thalamocortical in vivo and in vitro function was studied in mice lacking P/Q-type calcium channels (CaV2.1), in which N-type calcium channels (CaV2.2) supported central synaptic transmission. Unexpectedly, in vitro patch recordings from thalamic neurons demonstrated no g-band subthreshold oscillation, and voltage-sensitive dye imaging demonstrated an absence of cortical g-band-dependent columnar activation involving cortical inhibitory interneuron activity. In vivo electroencephalogram recordings showed persistent absence status and a dramatic reduction of g-band activity. Pharmacological block of T-type calcium channels (CaV3), although not noticeably affecting normal control animals, left the knockout mice in a coma-like state. Hence, although N-type calcium channels can rescue P/Q-dependent synaptic transmission, P/Q calcium channels are essential in the generation of g-band activity and resultant cognitive function.