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McMahon C, Kowalski DP, Krupka AJ, Lemay MA. Single-cell and ensemble activity of lumbar intermediate and ventral horn interneurons in the spinal air-stepping cat. J Neurophysiol 2022; 127:99-115. [PMID: 34851739 PMCID: PMC8721903 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00202.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We explored the relationship between population interneuronal network activation and motor output in the adult, in vivo, air-stepping, spinal cat. By simultaneously measuring the activity of large numbers of spinal interneurons, we explored ensembles of coherently firing interneurons and their relation to motor output. In addition, the networks were analyzed in relation to their spatial distribution along the lumbar enlargement for evidence of localized groups driving particular phases of the locomotor step cycle. We simultaneously recorded hindlimb EMG activity during stepping and extracellular signals from 128 channels across two polytrodes inserted within lamina V-VII of two separate lumbar segments. Results indicated that spinal interneurons participate in one of two ensembles that are highly correlated with the flexor or the extensor muscle bursts during stepping. Interestingly, less than half of the isolated single units were significantly unimodally tuned during the step cycle whereas >97% of the single units of the ensembles were significantly correlated with muscle activity. These results show the importance of population scale analysis in neural studies of behavior as there is a much greater correlation between muscle activity and ensemble firing than between muscle activity and individual neurons. Finally, we show that there is no correlation between interneurons' rostrocaudal locations within the lumbar enlargement and their preferred phase of firing or ensemble participation. These findings indicate that spinal interneurons of lamina V-VII encoding for different phases of the locomotor cycle are spread throughout the lumbar enlargement in the adult spinal cord.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We report on the ensemble organization of interneuronal activity in the spinal cord during locomotor movements and show that lumbar intermediate zone interneurons organize in two groups related to the two major phases of walking: stance and swing. Ensemble organization is also shown to better correlate with muscular output than single-cell activity, although ensemble membership does not appear to be somatotopically organized within the spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal McMahon
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - David P Kowalski
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Michel A Lemay
- Department of Bioengineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Bannatyne BA, Hao ZZ, Dyer GMC, Watanabe M, Maxwell DJ, Berkowitz A. Neurotransmitters and Motoneuron Contacts of Multifunctional and Behaviorally Specialized Turtle Spinal Cord Interneurons. J Neurosci 2020; 40:2680-2694. [PMID: 32066584 PMCID: PMC7096148 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2200-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The spinal cord can appropriately generate diverse movements, even without brain input and movement-related sensory feedback, using a combination of multifunctional and behaviorally specialized interneurons. The adult turtle spinal cord can generate motor patterns underlying forward swimming, three forms of scratching, and limb withdrawal (flexion reflex). We previously described turtle spinal interneurons activated during both scratching and swimming (multifunctional interneurons), interneurons activated during scratching but not swimming (scratch-specialized interneurons), and interneurons activated during flexion reflex but not scratching or swimming (flexion reflex-selective interneurons). How multifunctional and behaviorally specialized turtle spinal interneurons affect downstream neurons was unknown. Here, we recorded intracellularly from spinal interneurons activated during these motor patterns in turtles of both sexes in vivo and filled each with dyes. We labeled motoneurons using choline acetyltransferase antibodies or earlier intraperitoneal FluoroGold injection and used immunocytochemistry of interneuron axon terminals to identify their neurotransmitter(s) and putative synaptic contacts with motoneurons. We found that multifunctional interneurons are heterogeneous with respect to neurotransmitter, with some glutamatergic and others GABAergic or glycinergic, and can directly contact motoneurons. Also, scratch-specialized interneurons are heterogeneous with respect to neurotransmitter and some directly contact motoneurons. Thus, scratch-specialized interneurons might directly excite motoneurons that are more strongly activated during scratching than forward swimming, such as hip-flexor motoneurons. Finally, and surprisingly, we found that some motoneurons are behaviorally specialized, for scratching or flexion reflex. Thus, either some limb muscles are only used for a subset of limb behaviors or some limb motoneurons are only recruited during certain limb behaviors.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Both multifunctional and behaviorally specialized spinal cord interneurons have been described in turtles, but their outputs are unknown. We studied responses of multifunctional interneurons (activated during swimming and scratching) and scratch-specialized interneurons, filled each with dyes, and used immunocytochemistry to determine their neurotransmitters and contacts with motoneurons. We found that both multifunctional and scratch-specialized interneurons are heterogeneous with respect to neurotransmitter, with some excitatory and others inhibitory. We found that some multifunctional and some scratch-specialized interneurons directly contact motoneurons. Scratch-specialized interneurons may excite motoneurons that are more strongly activated during scratching than swimming, such as hip-flexor motoneurons, or inhibit their antagonists, hip-extensor motoneurons. Surprisingly, we also found that some motoneurons are behaviorally specialized, for scratching or for flexion reflex.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Anne Bannatyne
- Spinal Cord Group, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom G12 8QQ
| | - Zhao-Zhe Hao
- Department of Biology and Cellular and Behavioral Neurobiology Graduate Program, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, and
| | - Georgia M C Dyer
- Spinal Cord Group, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom G12 8QQ
| | - Masahiko Watanabe
- Department of Anatomy, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan
| | - David J Maxwell
- Spinal Cord Group, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom G12 8QQ
| | - Ari Berkowitz
- Department of Biology and Cellular and Behavioral Neurobiology Graduate Program, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, and
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Lin S, Li Y, Lucas-Osma AM, Hari K, Stephens MJ, Singla R, Heckman CJ, Zhang Y, Fouad K, Fenrich KK, Bennett DJ. Locomotor-related V3 interneurons initiate and coordinate muscles spasms after spinal cord injury. J Neurophysiol 2019; 121:1352-1367. [PMID: 30625014 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00776.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury leads to a devastating loss of motor function and yet is accompanied by a paradoxical emergence of muscle spasms, which often involve complex muscle activation patterns across multiple joints, reciprocal muscle timing, and rhythmic clonus. We investigated the hypothesis that spasms are a manifestation of partially recovered function in spinal central pattern-generating (CPG) circuits that normally coordinate complex postural and locomotor functions. We focused on the commissural propriospinal V3 neurons that coordinate interlimb movements during locomotion and examined mice with a chronic spinal transection. When the V3 neurons were optogenetically activated with a light pulse, a complex coordinated pattern of motoneuron activity was evoked with reciprocal, crossed, and intersegmental activity. In these same mice, brief sensory stimulation evoked spasms with a complex pattern of activity very similar to that evoked by light, and the timing of these spasms was readily reset by activation of V3 neurons. Given that V3 neurons receive abundant sensory input, these results suggest that sensory activation of V3 neurons is alone sufficient to generate spasms. Indeed, when we silenced V3 neurons optogenetically, sensory evoked spasms were inhibited. Also, inhibiting general CPG activity by blocking N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors inhibited V3 evoked activity and associated spasms, whereas NMDA application did the opposite. Furthermore, overwhelming the V3 neurons with repeated optogenetic stimulation inhibited subsequent sensory evoked spasms, both in vivo and in vitro. Taken together, these results demonstrate that spasms are generated in part by sensory activation of V3 neurons and associated CPG circuits. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We investigated whether locomotor-related excitatory interneurons (V3) play a role in coordinating muscle spasm activity after spinal cord injury (SCI). Unexpectedly, we found that these neurons not only coordinate reciprocal motor activity but are critical for initiating spasms, as well. More generally, these results suggest that V3 neurons are important in initiating and coordinating motor output after SCI and thus provide a promising target for restoring residual motor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihao Lin
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute and Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta , Canada
| | - Yaqing Li
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute and Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta , Canada
| | - Ana M Lucas-Osma
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute and Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta , Canada
| | - Krishnapriya Hari
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute and Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta , Canada
| | - Marilee J Stephens
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute and Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta , Canada
| | - Rahul Singla
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute and Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta , Canada
| | - C J Heckman
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University , Halifax, Nova Scotia , Canada
| | - Karim Fouad
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute and Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta , Canada
| | - Keith K Fenrich
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute and Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta , Canada
| | - David J Bennett
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute and Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta , Canada
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Abstract
Synaptic activity in motoneurons may provide unique insight in the relation between functional network activity and behavior. During scratch network activity in an ex vivo preparation from red-eared turtles ( Trachemys scripta elegans), excitatory and inhibitory synaptic current can be separated and quantified in voltage-clamp recordings. With this technique, we confirm the reciprocal synaptic excitation and inhibition in hip flexor motoneurons during ipsilateral scratching and show that out-of-phase inhibition and excitation also characterize hip extensor motoneurons during ipsi- and contralateral scratching. In contrast, inhibition precedes and partly overlaps excitation in hip flexor-like motoneurons and delays depolarization of membrane potential. We conclude that out-of-phase excitation and inhibition during rhythmic network activity is a common feature in spinal motoneurons. NEW & NOTEWORTHY During network activity, the firing pattern of individual neurons is shaped by their intrinsic conductances and synaptic input. Quantification of synaptic input is, therefore, essential to understand how the properties of individual neurons contribute to function and help to reveal the structure of the network. Here, we show how a combination of recording techniques can be used to quantify and compare the pattern of synaptic activity in different groups of motoneurons during rhythmic network activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jorn Hounsgaard
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Stein PSG. Central pattern generators in the turtle spinal cord: selection among the forms of motor behaviors. J Neurophysiol 2018; 119:422-440. [PMID: 29070633 PMCID: PMC5867383 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00602.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Revised: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal networks in the turtle spinal cord have considerable computational complexity even in the absence of connections with supraspinal structures. These networks contain central pattern generators (CPGs) for each of several behaviors, including three forms of scratch, two forms of swim, and one form of flexion reflex. Each behavior is activated by a specific set of cutaneous or electrical stimuli. The process of selection among behaviors within the spinal cord has multisecond memories of specific motor patterns. Some spinal cord interneurons are partially shared among several CPGs, whereas other interneurons are active during only one type of behavior. Partial sharing is a proposed mechanism that contributes to the ability of the spinal cord to generate motor pattern blends with characteristics of multiple behaviors. Variations of motor patterns, termed deletions, assist in characterization of the organization of the pattern-generating components of CPGs. Single-neuron recordings during both normal and deletion motor patterns provide support for a CPG organizational structure with unit burst generators (UBGs) whose members serve a direction of a specific degree of freedom of the hindlimb, e.g., the hip-flexor UBG, the hip-extensor UBG, the knee-flexor UBG, the knee-extensor UBG, etc. The classic half-center hypothesis that includes all the hindlimb flexors in a single flexor half-center and all the hindlimb extensors in a single extensor half-center lacks the organizational complexity to account for the motor patterns produced by turtle spinal CPGs. Thus the turtle spinal cord is a valuable model system for studies of mechanisms responsible for selection and generation of motor behaviors. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The concept of the central pattern generator (CPG) is a major tenet in motor neuroethology that has influenced the design and interpretations of experiments for over a half century. This review concentrates on the turtle spinal cord and describes studies from the 1970s to the present responsible for key developments in understanding the CPG mechanisms responsible for the selection and production of coordinated motor patterns during turtle hindlimb motor behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul S G Stein
- Department of Biology, Washington University , St. Louis, Missouri
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