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Identification of Minimal Neuronal Networks Involved in Flexor-Extensor Alternation in the Mammalian Spinal Cord
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Identification of Minimal Neuronal Networks Involved in Flexor-Extensor Alternation in the Mammalian Spinal Cord

Adolfo E. Talpalar, Toshiaki Endo, Peter Low, Lotta Borgius, Martin Hagglund, Kimberly J. Dougherty, Jesper Ryge, Thomas S. Hnasko and Ole Kiehn
Neuron (Cambridge, Mass.), v 71(6), pp 1071-1084
22 Sep 2011
PMID: 21943604
url
http://www.cell.com/article/S0896627311006088/pdfView
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2011.07.011View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Life Sciences & Biomedicine Neurosciences Neurosciences & Neurology Science & Technology
Neural networks in the spinal cord control two basic features of locomotor movements: rhythm generation and pattern generation. Rhythm generation is generally considered to be dependent on glutamatergic excitatory neurons. Pattern generation involves neural circuits controlling left-right alternation, which has been described in great detail, and flexor-extensor alternation, which remains poorly understood. Here, we use a mouse model in which glutamatergic neurotransmission has been ablated in the locomotor region of the spinal cord. The isolated in vitro spinal cord from these mice produces locomotor-like activity-when stimulated with neuroactive substances-with prominent flexor-extensor alternation. Under these conditions, unlike in control mice, networks of inhibitory interneurons generate the rhythmic activity. In the absence of glutamatergic synaptic transmission, the flexor-extensor alternation appears to be generated by la inhibitory interneurons, which mediate reciprocal inhibition from muscle proprioceptors to antagonist motor neurons. Our study defines a minimal inhibitory network that is needed to produce flexor-extensor alternation during locomotion.

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