PUBLICATION

Origin of excitation underlying locomotion in the spinal circuit of zebrafish

Authors
Eklöf-Ljunggren, E., Haupt, S., Ausborn, J., Dehnisch, I., Uhlén, P., Higashijima, S.I., and El Manira, A.
ID
ZDB-PUB-120326-21
Date
2012
Source
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America   109(14): 5511-5516 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Higashijima, Shin-ichi
Keywords
central pattern generator, premotor interneurons, motor behavior, synaptic transmission
MeSH Terms
  • Spinal Cord/cytology
  • Spinal Cord/physiology*
  • Swimming
  • Animals
  • Zebrafish/physiology*
  • Interneurons/cytology*
  • Locomotion*
(all 7)
PubMed
22431619 Full text @ Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
Abstract

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.

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cf3TgTransgenic Insertion
    cf4TgTransgenic Insertion
      nns1TgTransgenic Insertion
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        GFPEFGGFP
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