Action potentials initiate preferentially from the distal axon initial segent (AIS). Why do they not initiate from the proximal AIS? This study shows that the distal AIS is rich in low-threshold Nav1.6, whereas the proximal AIS has a high density of high-threshold Nav1.2 channels. Although the distal Nav1.6 promotes action potential initiation, the proximal Nav1.2 regulates action potential backpropagation to the soma.
- Wenqin Hu
- Cuiping Tian
- Yousheng Shu
