Persistent inward currents in spinal motoneurons: Important for normal function but potentially harmful after spinal cord injury and in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

S. M. ElBasiouny, J. E. Schuster, C. J. Heckman*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

Meaningful body movements depend on the interplay between synaptic inputs to motoneurons and their intrinsic properties. Injury and disease often alter either or both of these factors and cause motoneuron and movement dysfunction. The ability of the motoneuronal membrane to generate persistent inward currents (PICs) is especially potent in setting the intrinsic excitability of motoneurons and can drastically change the motoneuron output to a given input. In this article, we review the role of PICs in modulating the excitability of spinal motoneurons during health, and their contribution to motoneuron excitability after spinal cord injury (SCI) and in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) leading to exaggerated long-lasting reflexes and muscle spasms, and contributing to neuronal degeneration, respectively.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1669-1679
Number of pages11
JournalClinical Neurophysiology
Volume121
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2010

Keywords

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Motoneuron
  • Motor neuron
  • Persistent inward current
  • Spinal cord injury

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sensory Systems
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Physiology (medical)

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