Dynamic Control Of Neuronal Firing Threshold By Calcium Buffering: A New Role For Calcium Binding Proteins

We have investigated the detailed regulation of neuronal firing threshold by the cytosolic calcium buffering capacity using a combination of mathematical modeling and patch clamp recording in acute slice. Theoretical results show that, at similar free calcium concentration, increased calcium buffer concentration lowers the firing threshold of cerebellar granule cells. We show that this effect is a direct consequence of the major slowdown of calcium dynamics. Patch clamp recordings on cerebellar granule cells loaded with a high concentration of the fast calcium buffer BAPTA (15 mM) reveal alterations in the excitability threshold as compared to cells loaded with 0.15 mM BAPTA. In high calcium buffering conditions, granule cells exhibit a significative lower firing threshold. These results suggest that cytosolic calcium buffering capacity can tightly modulate neuronal firing threshold and therefore that calcium-binding proteins may play a critical role in the information processing in the central nervous system.