The role of calcium-activated braking pathways in chemosensitive neurons

Abstract

In this study we explore the role of Ca2+ -activated braking pathways in determining the response of central chemosensitive neurons to CO2/H+ using the Hodgkin-Huxley formulation. We develop a preliminary computational model of excitable single neurons that simulates the voltage-gated currents as well as the pH and Ca2+ sensitive K+ currents. This work yield valuable insights into the neuronal properties that determine chemosensitive gain and support the hypothesis that braking pathways may play a more significant role in setting single cell responses to CO2/H+ in central chemosensitive neurons. These results are thus likely to delineate the investigation about new therapeutic targets for drugs aimed at altering central chemosensitive gain for the treatment of major disorders.