[Effect of extracellular calcium on intrinsically bursting neurons in the entorhinal cortex of newborn rats: the computer modeling study].

In the developing rat entorhinal cortex principal neurons generated prolonged calcium-dependent intrinsic bursting activity, which was strongly increased by a reduction of extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]ex) from 2 to 1 mM. We suggest that enhancement of persistent sodium current (I(NaP)) after lowering of [Ca2+]ex might be a critical factof for the phenomenon. Computational modeling of prolonged neuronal bursting activity supports our proposal.