Projects per year
Abstract
Vertebrate central pattern generators (CPGs) controlling locomotion
contain neurons which provide the excitation that drives and maintains
network rhythms. In a simple vertebrate, the developing Xenopus
tadpole, we study the role of excitatory descending neurons with
ipsilateral projecting axons (descending interneurons, dINs) in the
control of swimming rhythms. In tadpoles with both intact central
nervous system (CNS) and transections in the hindbrain, exciting some
individual dINs in the caudal hindbrain region could start swimming
repeatedly. Analyses indicated the recruitment of additional dINs
immediately after such evoked dIN spiking and prior to swimming.
Excitation of dINs can therefore be sufficient for the initiation of
swimming. These “powerful” dINs all possessed both ascending and
descending axons. However, their axon projection lengths were not
different from those of other excitatory dINs at similar locations. The
dorsoventral position of dINs, as a population, significantly better
matched that of cells marked by immunocytochemistry for the
transcription factor CHX10 than other known neuron types in the ventral
hindbrain and spinal cord. The comparison suggests that the excitatory
interneurons including dINs are CHX10-positive, in agreement with CHX10
as a marker for excitatory neurons with ipsilateral projections in the
spinal cord and brainstem of other vertebrates. Overall, our results
further demonstrate the key importance of dINs in driving tadpole
swimming rhythms.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 47 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience |
Volume | 13 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 18 Feb 2019 |
Keywords
- Central pattern generator
- Swimming
- Excitatory interneurons
- Spinal cord
- Hindbrain
- CHX10
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Dive into the research topics of 'Stimulation of single, possible CHX10 hindbrain neurons turns swimming on and off in young Xenopus tadpoles'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 3 Finished
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Cross-modality integration of sensory: Cross-modality integration of sensory signals leading to initiation of locomotion
Li, W. (PI)
1/06/14 → 31/07/17
Project: Standard
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University Research Fellowship Renewal: University Research Fellowship Renewal
Li, W. (PI)
1/10/11 → 30/09/15
Project: Fellowship
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Xenopus Iocomotor interneuron lineage: Studying Tadpole Locomotion
Li, W. (PI)
1/03/10 → 31/08/13
Project: Standard