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Role of transport performance for neuron cell morphology

E. Louis^*, C. Degli Esposti Boschi, G. J. Ortega and E. Fernández^,1

^* Departamento de Física Aplicada, Instituto Universitario de Materiales (IUMA) and Unidad Asociada of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain;

CNR-INFM, Unità di Ricerca CNISM di Bologna, Bologna, Italy;

Departamento de Física, F.C.E.N. Universidad de Buenos Aires and CONICET, Pabellón I, Ciudad Universitaria, Bueno Aires, Argentina; and

Instituto de Bioingeniería, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de San Juan, Alicante, Spain

¹Correspondence: Universidad Miguel Hernández, Department of Histology and Institute of Bioengineering, Fac. Medicina, San Juan 03550, Alicante, Spain. E-mail: e.fernandez{at}umh.es

The compartmental model is a basic tool for studying signal propagation in neurons; if the model parameters are adequately redefined, it can also be helpful in the study of electrical or fluid transport in other biological systems. Here we show that the input resistance in different networks that simulate the morphology of neurons is the result of the interplay between the relevant conductances, neuron morphology, and neuron size. The results suggest that neurons may grow in such a way that facilitates the current flow to the synapses, concurrently minimizing power consumption.—Louis, E., Boschi C. D. E., Ortega, G. J., Fernández, E. Role of transport performance for neuron cell morphology.

Key Words: compartmental model • passive properties