Difference in excitability along geometrically inhomogeneous structures and occurrence of “hot spots”

Abstract

The differences in excitability along geometrically inhomogeneous, electrically excitable structures as well as the possibility of occurrence of “hot spots” at certain branch points were theoretically analysed on the basis of the Hodgkin-Huxley model assuming uniform specific membrane parameters along the structure length. It was shown that the “hot spots” conditioned by geometrical inhomogeneities should be not only morphological but also functional formations. The excitability at the branch point could be higher than that at the rest of the structure when the branch point was an electrical equivalent of a step decrease in the cable diameter. The stronger the diameter decrease, the higher the excitability at the branch point and thus the higher is the possibility of observation of “hot spots” in the nerve cells whose dendrites have a profuse branching. The realization of the “hot spots”, however, depended on the distance from the site of the stimulus application (synapse) to the branch point and on the stimulus (synaptic current) strength, as well. The closer the synaptic current strength to the threshold value, and the shorter the synapse-branch point distance, the higher was the possibility of a propagating action potential origin at the branch point but not at the site of the stimulus application and thus the higher was the possibility of realization of “hot spots”. The conclusion that the geometrical position of the initial segment contributes to its higher excitability (as compared to the rest of the cell) in the case of orthodromic activation of the neuron was also made.