Journal article
Lumbar spinal Shox2 interneurons receive monosynaptic excitatory input from the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus in mouse
iScience, v 29(2), 114567
Dec 2025
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Locomotion in vertebrates is generated in the spinal cord but initiated by supraspinal centers. Spinal interneurons expressing Shox2 include putative locomotor rhythm generating neurons in mice. Reticulospinal neurons directly provide drive to spinal rhythm generating interneurons, which then convey rhythmic output. Excitatory neurons in the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus (LPGi) have been shown to provide this descending drive during locomotor initiation. Here, we performed viral tracing and electrophysiology to test for direct connections between the LPGi and lumbar Shox2 interneurons in adult mice. Using monosynaptic-restricted rabies tracing, we show that excitatory neurons from the LPGi make direct synaptic connections onto lumbar Shox2 interneurons. This connection from the ventral caudal medulla to Shox2 interneurons was confirmed via anterograde tracing and recordings of excitatory postsynaptic potentials in Shox2 interneurons. Thus, a subset of Shox2 interneurons receive monosynaptic excitatory input from the LPGi, which may provide the substrate for locomotor initiation.
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•Several brainstem nuclei make direct connections to lumbar Shox2 interneurons 79•Monosynaptic connections include glutamatergic LPGi neurons to Shox2 interneurons 83•Functional excitatory reticulospinal to Shox2 interneuron connections demonstrated 84
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Details
- Title
- Lumbar spinal Shox2 interneurons receive monosynaptic excitatory input from the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus in mouse
- Creators
- Shayna Singh - Drexel UniversityLihua Yao - Drexel UniversityKimberly J. Dougherty (Corresponding Author) - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- iScience, v 29(2), 114567
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 14
- Grant note
- NIH: R01 NS130799, T32 NS121768, F31 NS132514
We thank members of the Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center and Drexel University Lab Animal Resources for support. We thank Remi Ronzano, Mary Patton, Anand Kulkarni, and Jay Bikoff for experimental advice. We thank Julien Bouyer, Ying Jin, Wenqiang Huang, and Dong Wang for generous surgical assistance. We also thank Lynnette Montgomery for discussions and Malcolm Jennings for experimental assistance. This work was supported by NIH R01 NS130799 (K.J.D.) , T32 NS121768 (S.S.) , and F31 NS132514 (S.S.) . Modified rabies virus was provided by the NIH Virus Center supported by P40 OD010996.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Neurobiology and Anatomy
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001664724100001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105027015220
- Other Identifier
- 991022152237804721
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