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Long ascending propriospinal neurons provide flexible, context-specific control of interlimb coordination

Long ascending propriospinal neurons provide flexible, context-specific control of interlimb coordination

Authors :
Amanda M Pocratsky
Courtney T Shepard
Johnny R Morehouse
Darlene A Burke
Amberley S Riegler
Josiah T Hardin
Jason E Beare
Casey Hainline
Gregory JR States
Brandon L Brown
Scott R Whittemore
David SK Magnuson
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