Functional Features of Sympathetic Ganglionic Neurons during Postnatal Ontogenesis in Health and Disease
摘要
Neurons of sympathetic pre- and paravertebral ganglia differin their electrophysiological properties, which enables them toperform different functions. There are two main electrophysiologicaltypes of sympathetic ganglionic neurons in mammals, phasic and tonic.The development of modern research methods, including patch clamp,has made it possible to refine data on the basic electrophysiological characteristicsof these neurons, obtained largely by sharp recording, i.e. piercingtheir membrane with thin glass microelectrodes. The diverse firingpatterns of sympathetic neurons result from the differential expressionof voltage-gated ion channels responsible for generating variouscurrents: inward—I Na (tetrodotoxin-sensitiveand -insensitive sodium currents), I Ca (calciumcurrent), I H (hyperpolarization-activatednonselective cation current), I CaCl (calcium-dependentchloride current), as well as outward—I DR (delayedrectifier potassium current), I AHP (slowafterhyperpolarization calcium-activated potassium current), I A (fast transientpotassium current), and I M (slowlyactivating, non-inactivating potassium current). This review describesthe contribution of various channels to the excitability of sympatheticneurons, their changes during postnatal ontogenesis, and alterationsin the electrophysiological characteristics of ganglionic neuronsin pathological processes.