Logo image
Origin of excitation underlying locomotion in the spinal circuit of zebrafish
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Origin of excitation underlying locomotion in the spinal circuit of zebrafish

Emma Eklof-Ljunggren, Sabine Haupt, Jessica Ausborn, Ivar Dehnisch, Per Uhlen, Shin-ichi Higashijima and Abdeljabbar El Manira
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, v 109(14), pp 5511-5516
03 Apr 2012
PMID: 22431619
url
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1115377109View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Maybe Open Access (Publisher Bronze) Open

Abstract

Multidisciplinary Sciences Science & Technology Science & Technology - Other Topics
Neural circuits in the spinal cord transform instructive signals from the brain into well-coordinated locomotor movements by virtue of rhythm-generating components. Although evidence suggests that excitatory interneurons are the essence of locomotor rhythm generation, their molecular identity and the assessment of their necessity have remained unclear. Here we show, using larval zebrafish, that V2a interneurons represent an intrinsic source of excitation necessary for the normal expression of the locomotor rhythm. Acute and selective ablation of these interneurons increases the threshold of induction of swimming activity, decreases the burst frequency, and alters the coordination of the rostro-caudal propagation of activity. Thus, our results argue that V2a interneurons represent a source of excitation that endows the spinal circuit with the capacity to generate locomotion.

Metrics

9 Record Views
72 citations in Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Neurosciences
Logo image