PUBLICATION
Multiple Rhythm-Generating Circuits Act in Tandem with Pacemaker Properties to Control the Start and Speed of Locomotion
- Authors
- Song, J., Pallucchi, I., Ausborn, J., Ampatzis, K., Bertuzzi, M., Fontanel, P., Picton, L.D., El Manira, A.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-200128-10
- Date
- 2020
- Source
- Neuron 105(6): 1048-1061.e4 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Keywords
- interneurons, locomotor initiation, motor behavior, neural circuits, recurrent excitation, spinal cord, zebrafish
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Biological Clocks/physiology*
- Central Pattern Generators/physiology*
- Locomotion/physiology*
- Motor Neurons/physiology
- Neural Pathways/physiology*
- Spinal Cord/physiology
- Zebrafish
- PubMed
- 31982322 Full text @ Neuron
Citation
Song, J., Pallucchi, I., Ausborn, J., Ampatzis, K., Bertuzzi, M., Fontanel, P., Picton, L.D., El Manira, A. (2020) Multiple Rhythm-Generating Circuits Act in Tandem with Pacemaker Properties to Control the Start and Speed of Locomotion. Neuron. 105(6):1048-1061.e4.
Abstract
In vertebrates, specific command centers in the brain can selectively drive slow-explorative or fast-speed locomotion. However, it remains unclear how the locomotor central pattern generator (CPG) processes descending drive into coordinated locomotion. Here, we reveal, in adult zebrafish, a logic of the V2a interneuron rhythm-generating circuits involving recurrent and hierarchical connectivity that acts in tandem with pacemaker properties to provide an ignition and gear-shift mechanism to start locomotion and change speed. A comprehensive mapping of synaptic connections reveals three recurrent circuit modules engaged sequentially to increase locomotor speed. The connectivity between V2a interneurons of different modules displayed a clear asymmetry in favor of connections from faster to slower modules. The interplay between V2a interneuron pacemaker properties and their organized connectivity provides a mechanism for locomotor initiation and speed control. Thus, our results provide mechanistic insights into how the spinal CPG transforms descending drive into locomotion and align its speed with the initial intention.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping