Temperature Dependence of Action Potential Parameters in Aplysia Neurons

Abstract

Although the effects of temperature changes on the activity of neurons have been studied in Aplysia, the reproducibility of the temperature dependence of the action potential (AP) parameters has not been verified. To this end, we performed experiments using Aplysia neurons. Fourteen AP parameters were analyzed using the long-term data series recorded during the experiments. Our analysis showed that nine of the AP parameters decreased as the temperature increased: the AP amplitude (A(AP)), membrane potential at the positive peak (V-pp), interspike interval, first half (Delta t(r1)) and last half (Delta t(r2)) of the temperature rising phase, first half (Delta t(f1)) and last half (Delta t(f2)) of the temperature falling phase, AP (Delta t(AP,) (1/2)), and differentiated signal (Delta t(DS,) (1/2)) half-width durations. Five of the AP parameters increased with temperature: the differentiated signal amplitude (A(DS)), absolute value of the membrane potential at negative peak (vertical bar V-np vertical bar) absolute value of the maximum slope of the AP during the temperature rising (vertical bar-MSR vertical bar) and falling (vertical bar-MSF vertical bar) phases, and spiking frequency (Frequency). This work could provide the basis for a better understanding of the elementary processes underlying the temperature-dependent neuronal activity in Aplysia. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel