Single Compartment Models of Neurons
Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 4:56 am
Hello,
I've recently been given the task of creating a single compartment model of a neuron using experimental data (from whole cell patch clamp recordings). In developing my model, I've chosen morphological parameters (soma diameter and surface area) from a paper that's performed 3-D morphological construction of cells stained with biocytin. I've inserted sodium, delayed rectifier potassium, a-type potassium, calcium, and leakage ionic channels using a .mod file. Finally, I am using a parameter search of maximum ionic conductances (i.e., gionbar) to attempt to reproduce the current-voltage relationships observed in vitro following voltage-clamp experiments (I am using SEClamp in a 'for' loop). Additionally, I am attempting to reproduce spiking patterns observed in vitro following current clamp (I am using IClamp in a 'for' loop). As it turns out, I do find some values that allow me to reproduce the potassium current vs. membrane voltage plots observed in vitro. However, I am not entirely convinced that my simulations make any sense. Which leads me to my main question:
What are single compartment models useful for? I read on a previous post that single compartment models will not respond to extracellular stimulation--what exactly is defined as extracellular stimulation? Voltage clamp? Current clamp? I suppose I'm a bit confused and I want to be sure that I'm building a model that is both interesting and useful.
I should also add that the particular cell I'm studying has extensive gap junctioning, and a recent paper has measured input resistance to these cells by blocking the gap junctions.
Thank you,
N.
I've recently been given the task of creating a single compartment model of a neuron using experimental data (from whole cell patch clamp recordings). In developing my model, I've chosen morphological parameters (soma diameter and surface area) from a paper that's performed 3-D morphological construction of cells stained with biocytin. I've inserted sodium, delayed rectifier potassium, a-type potassium, calcium, and leakage ionic channels using a .mod file. Finally, I am using a parameter search of maximum ionic conductances (i.e., gionbar) to attempt to reproduce the current-voltage relationships observed in vitro following voltage-clamp experiments (I am using SEClamp in a 'for' loop). Additionally, I am attempting to reproduce spiking patterns observed in vitro following current clamp (I am using IClamp in a 'for' loop). As it turns out, I do find some values that allow me to reproduce the potassium current vs. membrane voltage plots observed in vitro. However, I am not entirely convinced that my simulations make any sense. Which leads me to my main question:
What are single compartment models useful for? I read on a previous post that single compartment models will not respond to extracellular stimulation--what exactly is defined as extracellular stimulation? Voltage clamp? Current clamp? I suppose I'm a bit confused and I want to be sure that I'm building a model that is both interesting and useful.
I should also add that the particular cell I'm studying has extensive gap junctioning, and a recent paper has measured input resistance to these cells by blocking the gap junctions.
Thank you,
N.