PUBLICATION

A topographic map of recruitment in spinal cord

Authors
McLean, D.L., Fan, J., Higashijima, S., Hale, M.E., and Fetcho, J.R.
ID
ZDB-PUB-070303-45
Date
2007
Source
Nature   446(7131): 71-75 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Fetcho, Joseph R., Hale, Melina, Higashijima, Shin-ichi
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Electrophysiology
  • Glycine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics
  • Interneurons/physiology
  • Larva/cytology
  • Larva/physiology
  • Motor Neurons/physiology
  • Spinal Cord/anatomy & histology
  • Spinal Cord/cytology*
  • Spinal Cord/physiology*
  • Swimming/physiology
  • Zebrafish/anatomy & histology
  • Zebrafish/physiology*
PubMed
17330042 Full text @ Nature
Abstract
Animals move over a range of speeds by using rhythmic networks of neurons located in the spinal cord. Here we use electrophysiology and in vivo imaging in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) to reveal a systematic relationship between the location of a spinal neuron and the minimal swimming frequency at which the neuron is active. Ventral motor neurons and excitatory interneurons are rhythmically active at the lowest swimming frequencies, with increasingly more dorsal excitatory neurons engaged as swimming frequency rises. Inhibitory interneurons follow the opposite pattern. These inverted patterns of recruitment are independent of cell soma size among interneurons, but may be partly explained by concomitant dorso-ventral gradients in input resistance. Laser ablations of ventral, but not dorsal, excitatory interneurons perturb slow movements, supporting a behavioural role for the topography. Our results reveal an unexpected pattern of organization within zebrafish spinal cord that underlies the production of movements of varying speeds.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping