Back to Search
Start Over
Long ascending propriospinal neurons provide flexible, context-specific control of interlimb coordination
Long ascending propriospinal neurons provide flexible, context-specific control of interlimb coordination
- Source :
- eLife, Vol 9 (2020)
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- eLife Sciences Publications Ltd, 2020.
-
Abstract
- Within the cervical and lumbar spinal enlargements, central pattern generator (CPG) circuitry produces the rhythmic output necessary for limb coordination during locomotion. Long propriospinal neurons that inter-connect these CPGs are thought to secure hindlimb-forelimb coordination, ensuring that diagonal limb pairs move synchronously while the ipsilateral limb pairs move out-of-phase during stepping. Here, we show that silencing long ascending propriospinal neurons (LAPNs) that inter-connect the lumbar and cervical CPGs disrupts left-right limb coupling of each limb pair in the adult rat during overground locomotion on a high-friction surface. These perturbations occurred independent of the locomotor rhythm, intralimb coordination, and speed-dependent (or any other) principal features of locomotion. Strikingly, the functional consequences of silencing LAPNs are highly context-dependent; the phenotype was not expressed during swimming, treadmill stepping, exploratory locomotion, or walking on an uncoated, slick surface. These data reveal surprising flexibility and context-dependence in the control of interlimb coordination during locomotion.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2050084X
- Volume :
- 9
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- eLife
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.1d2ab2ad153547348c5c71b83cd2cbee
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.53565