Cerebellar molecular interneurons: a comparative modeling and experimental study

The present study advances our understanding of the neurophysiology of cerebellar stellate cells (SC), combining experimental whole-cell recordings and computational modeling. SCs are inhibitory interneurons of the molecular layer of the cerebellum, able to control the activity of Purkinje cells. Recent studies have revealed the important function of these interneurons during behavioural tasks, motor coordination, and motor learning (Liu S.J, 2013).We have characterized the intrinsic excitable properties of SCs such as the intrinsic spontaneous firing and the particular responses to depolarization and hyperpolarization event. SCs showed autorhytmic firing around 24 Hz, an increase of frequency in response to depolarizing inputs, a deep after hyperpolarization (AHP) following discharge and rebound excitation in response to hyperpolarization. The data necessary to generate detailed conductance-based mathemathical models are obtained from experimental patch-clamp recordings performed on mouse cerebellar slices. The model is based on precise morphological and electrophysiological measurements and faithfully reproduce the main biophysical properties of the neuron observed during experimental behaviours. Thus, it became a valuable tool to investigate the SC function in cerebellar network activity. This work provides an almost complete knoweledge about SC electroresponsiveness.