A biophysical model of cortical glutamate excitation of medium spiny neurons in the dorsal lateral striatum

The striatum is believed to be the main input station of the basal ganglia. No biophysical network model existed in NEURON of a dorsal lateral striatal medium spiny neuron (MSN) that included NMDA and AMPA receptors. A model of the striatum that includes these receptors simulating in-vivo electrophysiological behavior is presented. A single compartment MSN (scMSN) model was created by enhancing an existing single compartment striatal output neuron model with NMDA and AMPA receptor models. The models concentration ratio and respective activation and deactivation time constants were fit to existing electrophysiological data. The entire scMSN model was validated against pre-existing whole neuron experimental data generated by direct current injection into the soma and excitation resulting from cortical stimulation. The developed biophysical simulation allows for neurotransmitter input and produces accurate action potential output.