Plasticity mechanisms of genetically distinct Purkinje cells

• Published in: BioEssays Vol. 46; no. 6; pp. e2400008 - n/a
• Main Authors: Voerman, Stijn, Broersen, Robin, Swagemakers, Sigrid M. A., De Zeeuw, Chris I., Spek, Peter J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-06-2024
• Subjects: Action potential; Action Potentials - physiology; Animals; Cerebellar Cortex - cytology; Cerebellar Cortex - metabolism; Cerebellar Cortex - physiology; Cerebellum; differential gene expression; Genetic factors; Genetics; Humans; intrinsic excitability; intrinsic plasticity; long‐term plasticity; Neuronal Plasticity - genetics; Physiological effects; Physiology; Plastic foam; Plastic properties; Plasticity; Populations; Purkinje cell; Purkinje cells; Purkinje Cells - metabolism; Purkinje Cells - physiology; Synapses - genetics; Synapses - metabolism; Synapses - physiology; Synaptic plasticity; Zebrin‐II; long‐term plasticity; Zebrin‐II; differential gene expression; intrinsic excitability; intrinsic plasticity; Purkinje cell; synaptic plasticity
• ISSN: 0265-9247; 1521-1878
• DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400008

Despite its uniform appearance, the cerebellar cortex is highly heterogeneous in terms of structure, genetics and physiology. Purkinje cells (PCs), the principal and sole output neurons of the cerebellar cortex, can be categorized into multiple populations that differentially express molecular markers and display distinctive physiological features. Such features include action potential rate, but also their propensity for synaptic and intrinsic plasticity. However, the precise molecular and genetic factors that correlate with the differential physiological properties of PCs remain elusive. In this article, we provide a detailed overview of the cellular mechanisms that regulate PC activity and plasticity. We further perform a pathway analysis to highlight how molecular characteristics of specific PC populations may influence their physiology and plasticity mechanisms.
Cerebellar Purkinje cells with distinct molecular expression profiles are known to have distinct physiological properties. In this review, we highlight how molecular expression patterns of Zebrin‐II or Aldoc positive PCs and Zebrin‐II negative or Plcb4 positive PCs affect their physiology, namely, synaptic plasticity, intrinsic excitability, and intrinsic plasticity.