Laboratory of cellular physiology and ion channel function
- The Storm Lab



Summary of activity

Our group studies fundamental principles and biophysical mechanisms governing the functions of neurons within the mammalian brain, and try to relate these mechanisms to neuronal circuit function, brain function, and animal behaviour. On one hand, we seek to identify and understand fundamental cellular mechanisms that operate in many parts of the nervous system. On the other, we focus particularly on mechanisms within the hippocampus and other parts of the medial temporal lobe memory system.

Since ion channels generate all electrical signals within the nervous system, we have for many years focused on the functions of neuronal ion channels in the mammalian brain. In particular, we have often studied potassium (K+) channels, which constitute by far the most diverse group of voltage-gated ion channels in the brain, and have proven to be of crucial importance for many forms of neuronal information processing.

Until recently we have mainly studied intrinsic cellular signalling mechanisms within each neuron, but we are now expanding these studies to also include network and system functions and their behavioural correlates.

For more than two decades (since 1985) we have been developing a detailed, biophysically realistic computational model of a hippocampal pyramidal cell (CA1).  Through two-way interaction between detailed experimental measurements and modelling, the model have reached a stage where we can make predictions – some of them counterintuitive – which have subsequently been verified by experiments (see, e.g., Vervaeke et al. Neuron, 2006, Hu et al., J.Neurosci.  2009).

Contact information


Web-pages:
folk.uio.no/jstorm

Address:
Professor Johan F. Storm

IMB,
University of Oslo
PO Box 1104 Blindern,
N-0317 Oslo, Norway

Domus Medica: rooms 1117-1121,
Sognvannsveien 9, Gaustad

Office phone: +47 22851246
Mobile phone: +47 99295763
Fax: +47 22851249

Senior personnel

Prof. Johan F. Storm, MD, PhD

Personnel's neuroinformatic skills/background

Professor Johan F. Storm (electrophysiology, computational neuroscience, medicine, mathematics, logic) started in 1985 collaborating with Lyle Borg-Graham (then master student at the AI-lab at MIT) about the development of a detailed model of a cortical pyramidal cell (CA1). This collaboration continues (see Key publications with computational neuroscience, below).

Postdoc Konstantin Ostroumov (computational neuroscience, physics, electrophysiology)

Postdoc Koen Vervaeke (p.t. UCL, London) (computational neuroscience, engineering, electrophysiology)

Postdoc Ricardo Murphey  (computational neuroscience, electrophysiology)

Modeling tools

  • The Surf-Hippo Neuron Simulation System - biophysically realistic compartmental modelling of neurons
  • NEURON (neuron.duke.edu) - compartmental modelling of biophysically realistic neuron models
  • MATLAB

Experimental tools

  • Patch-clamp electrophysiology in vitro.
  • Dynamic clamp (see Vervaeke et al. Neuron, 2006; Storm et al. 2009)
  • Sharp electrode intracellular recording electrophysiology in vitro.
  • Single brain neuron recording in freely moving animals in vivo
  • Viral vectors for gene manipulations in vitro and in vivo
  • Organotypic and dissociated neuronal cultures
  • Calcium imaging
  • Behavioral testing
  • Behavioral pharmacology

Key publications with computational neuroscience


  • Hu H Martina M, Jonas P. (2010) Dendritic mechanisms underlying rapid synaptic activation of fast-spiking hippocampal interneurons. Science 327(5961):52-8.
  • Nörenberg A, Hu H et al.. (2010) Distinct nonuniform cable properties optimize rapid and efficient activation of fast-spiking GABAergic interneurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 107(2):894-9.
  • Hu H, Vervaeke K, Graham LJ, Storm JF. (2009) Complementary theta resonance filtering by two spatially segregated mechanisms in CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons. J Neurosci. 29(46):14472-83.
  • Storm JF, Vervaeke,K, Hu H, Graham LJ (2009) Functions of the Persistent Na-Current in Cortical Neurons Revealed by Dynamic Clamp. In Dynamic Clamp. In: Dynamic-Clamp: From Principles to Applications (Springer Series in Computational Neuroscience) Eds. Alain Destexhe and Thierry Bal
  • Gu N, Hu H, Vervaeke K, Storm JF. (2008) SK (KCa2) channels do not control somatic excitability in CA1 pyramidal neurons but can be activated by dendritic excitatory synapses and regulate their impact. J Neurophysiol. 100(5):2589-604.
  • Gu, N., Vervaeke, K., Storm, J.F. (2007) BK potassium channels facilitete high-frequency firing and cause early spike frequency adaptation in rat CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells. Journal of Physiology 580: 859-82
  • Hjornevik, T., Leergaard, T.B., Darine, D., Moldestad, O., Dale, A.M., Willoch, F., Bjaalie, J.G. (2007). Three-dimensional atlas system for mouse and rat brain imaging data. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics 1: 1-11.
  • Hu, H., Vervaeke, K., Storm, J.F. (2007) M-Channels (Kv7/KCNQ Channels) that regulate synaptic integration, excitability, and spike pattern of CA1 pyramidal pells are located in the perisomatic region. Journal of Neuroscience 27: 1853-1867.
  • Vervaeke K, Gu N, Agdestein C, Hu H, Storm JF.(2006) Kv7/KCNQ/M-channels in rat glutamatergic hippocampal axons and their role in regulation of excitability and transmitter release. Journal of Physiology 576: 235-56.
  • Vervaeke K., Hu H., Graham, L., Storm J.F. (2006) Contrasting effects of the persistent Na+ current on neuronal excitability and spike timing. Neuron, 49: 257-270.
  • Gu N., Vervaeke K., Hu H., Storm J.F. (2005) Kv7/KCNQ/M and HCN/h, but not KCa2/SK channels, contribute to the somatic medium after-hyperpolarization and excitability control in CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells. Journal of Physiology, 566: 689-715.
  • Hu, H., Vervaeke, K., and Storm, J.F. (2002). Two forms of electrical resonance at theta frequencies, generated by M-current, h-current and persistent Na+-current in rat hippocampal pyramidal cells. Journal of Physiology, 545: 783-805.
  • Shao, L.-R., Halvorsrud, R., Borg-Graham, L. and Storm, J.F. (1999) Evidence that BK-type Ca2+-dependent K+ channels contribute to action potential broadening during repetitive firing in rat CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells. Journal of Physiology, 521: 135-146.

Other Key publications within neuroscience


  • Peters H.C.*, Hu H.*, Pongs O., Storm J.F.#, Isbrandt D.# (2005). Conditional transgenic suppression of M channels in mouse brain reveals functions in neuronal excitability, resonance and behavior. Nature Neuroscience, 8: 51-60. [* equal contributions, # corresponding authors].
  • Sausbier, M.* , Hu, H. *, Arntz, C., Feil, S., Kamm, S., Adelsberger, H., Sausbier, U., Sailer, C. A., Feil, R., Hofmann, F., Korth, M., Shipston, M. J., Knaus, H. G., Wolfer, D. P., Pedroarena, C. M., Storm, J. F.#, and Ruth, P#. (2004). Cerebellar ataxia and Purkinje cell dysfunction caused by Ca2+-activated K+ channel deficiency. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA, 101: 9474-8. (* equal contributions; # corresponding authors).
  • Ramakers, G.M.J., and Storm, J.F. (2002). A postsynaptic transient K+ current modulated by arachidonic acid regulates synaptic integration and threshold for LTP induction in hippocampal pyramidal cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA, 99: 10144-10149.
  • Sailer, C.A., Hu, H., Kaufmann, W.A., Trieb, M., Schwarzer, C., Storm, J.F., and Knaus, H.G. (2002) Regional differences in distribution and functional expression of small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels in rat brain. Journal of Neuroscience, 22: 9698-9707.
  • Hu, H., Shao, L-R.  Gu, N., Chavoshy, S., Tieb, M., Behrens, R., Laake, P., Pongs, O., Knaus, J.G.,  Ottersen, O.P.  and Storm, J.F. (2001)  Presynaptic Ca2+-dependent K+ channels in glutamatergic hippocampal terminals and their role in spike repolarization and regulation of transmitter release. Journal of Neuroscience, 21: 9585-9597.
  • Lancaster, B., Hu, H., Ramakers, G.M.J. and Storm, J.F. (2001) Interaction between excitatory synaptic input and slow AHP current (IsAHP) in hippocampal pyramidal cells. Journal of Physiology, 536: 809-823.
  • Giese, K.P., Storm, J.F., Reuter, D., Fedorov, N.B., Shao, L.R., Leichner, T., Pongs, O. and Silva, A.J. (1998).  Reduced K+ channel inactivation, spike broadening and after-hyperpolarization in Kvβ1.1-deficient mice with impaired learning. Learning and Memory, 5: 257-243.
  • Pedarzani, P. and Storm, J.F. (1996). Evidence that Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase mediates the modulation of the Ca2+-dependent K+ current, IAHP, by acetylcholine, but not by glutamate, in hippocampal neurons. Pflügers Archiv European Journal of Physiology. 431(5):723-8.
  • Pedarzani, P. and Storm, J.F. (1996).  Interaction between a and b adrenergic receptor agonists modulating the slow Ca2+-activated K+ current IAHP  in hippocampal neurons. European Journal of Neuroscience, 8: 2098-2110.
  • Pedarzani, P. and Storm, J.F. (1995).  Protein kinase A-independent modulation of ion channels in the brain by cyclic AMP. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA, 92:11716-20.
  • Pedarzani, P. and Storm, J.F. (1995).  Dopamine modulates the slow Ca(2+)-activated K+ current IAHP via cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in hippocampal neurons. Journal of Neuroscience, 74(6):2749-53.
  • Hvalby, O., Hemmings, H.C. Jr., Paulsen, O., Czernik, A.J., Nairn, A.C., Godfraind, J.M., Jensen, V., Raastad, M., Storm, J.F., Andersen P. and Greengard, P. (1994). Specificity of protein kinase inhibitor peptides and induction of long-term potentiation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA, 91: 4761-4765.
  • Pedarzani, P. and Storm, J.F. (1993).  PKA mediates the effects of monoamine transmitters on the K+ current underlying the slow spike-frequency adaptation in hippocampal neurons. Neuron, 11: 1023-1035.
  • Storm, J.F. (1989). An after-hyperpolarization of medium duration in rat hippocampal pyramidal cells. Journal of Physiology, 409: 171-190.
  • Storm, J.F. (1988).  Temporal integration by a slowly inactivating K+ current in hippocampal neurons. Nature, 336: 379-381.
  • Storm, J.F. (1987).  Action potential repolarization and a fast after-hyperpolarization in rat hippocampal pyramidal cells. Journal of Physiology, 385: 733-759.