Deconstructing the modular organization and real-time dynamics of mammalian spinal locomotor networks

Locomotion empowers animals to move. Locomotor-initiating signals from the brain are funneled through descending neurons in the brainstem that act directly on spinal locomotor circuits. Little is known in mammals about which spinal circuits are targeted by the command and how this command is transfo...

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Veröffentlicht in:NATURE COMMUNICATIONS 2023-02, Vol.14 (1), p.873-873, Article 873
Hauptverfasser: Hsu, Li-Ju, Bertho, Maëlle, Kiehn, Ole
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:Locomotion empowers animals to move. Locomotor-initiating signals from the brain are funneled through descending neurons in the brainstem that act directly on spinal locomotor circuits. Little is known in mammals about which spinal circuits are targeted by the command and how this command is transformed into rhythmicity in the cord. Here we address these questions leveraging a mouse brainstem-spinal cord preparation from either sex that allows locating the locomotor command neurons with simultaneous Ca 2+ imaging of spinal neurons. We show that a restricted brainstem area – encompassing the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus (LPGi) and caudal ventrolateral reticular nucleus (CVL) – contains glutamatergic neurons which directly initiate locomotion. Ca 2+ imaging captures the direct LPGi/CVL locomotor initiating command in the spinal cord and visualizes spinal glutamatergic modules that execute the descending command and its transformation into rhythmic locomotor activity. Inhibitory spinal networks are recruited in a distinctly different pattern. Our study uncovers the principal logic of how spinal circuits implement the locomotor command using a distinct modular organization. Where and how the command signal for initiation of locomotion is integrated in the spinal cord has remained unresolved. Here, the authors uncover the functional chain of this signal from the brainstem locomotor command areas to neurons in the spinal cord.
ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-023-36587-w