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Mechanisms Causing Plateau Potentials in Spinal Motoneurones

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 508))

Abstract

Plateau potentials are generated by a voltage sensitive persistent inward current. In spinal motoneurones this current is predominantly mediated by influx of Caei through L-type Cae` channels of the Cav1.3 subtype. Depolarisation-induced facilitation of L-type Ca. channels is thought to be the mechanism for delayed activation (wind-up and warm-up) of the plateau potential and for the hysteresis in firing frequency and I-V relation during triangular depolarisation. L-type Cae’ channels and plateau potentials in spinal motoneurones are facilitated by activation of metabotropic receptors for glutamate, acetylcholine, noradrenaline and serotonin and down regulated by activation of GABAareceptors. The facilitation has been shown to depend on activated calmodulin.

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© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Alaburda, A., Perrier, JF., Hounsgaard, J. (2002). Mechanisms Causing Plateau Potentials in Spinal Motoneurones. In: Gandevia, S.C., Proske, U., Stuart, D.G. (eds) Sensorimotor Control of Movement and Posture. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 508. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0713-0_27

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0713-0_27

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5206-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0713-0

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