The Role of SK Calcium-Dependent Potassium Currents in Regulating the Activity of Deep Cerebellar Nucleus Neurons: A Dynamic Clamp Study

We used the method of dynamic current clamping to determine the properties and function of the SK calcium-dependent K+ current in neurons of the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN). As previously reported, block of SK current with apamin leads to bursting of DCN neurons and a steepening of the f-I curve. We show here that the properties of the slow spike afterhyperpolarization are fully controlled by SK current and we derive kinetic properties of this current that explain its action on DCN neurons. Overall, the SK current provides an effective mechanism to tune the regularity of spiking and the f-I curve of DCN neurons.