Episodic rhythmicity is generated by a distributed neural network in the developing mammalian spinal cord
Summary: Spinal circuits generate locomotor rhythms, but the mechanisms behind episodic locomotor behaviors remain unclear. This study investigated dopamine-induced episodic rhythms in isolated neonatal mouse spinal cords to understand these mechanisms. The episodic rhythms were generally synchronou...
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225002317 |
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| author | Jonathan J. Milla-Cruz Adam P. Lognon Michelle A. Tran Stephanie A. Di Vito Carlotta Löer Anchita Shonak Matthew J. Broadhead Gareth B. Miles Simon A. Sharples Patrick J. Whelan |
| author_facet | Jonathan J. Milla-Cruz Adam P. Lognon Michelle A. Tran Stephanie A. Di Vito Carlotta Löer Anchita Shonak Matthew J. Broadhead Gareth B. Miles Simon A. Sharples Patrick J. Whelan |
| author_sort | Jonathan J. Milla-Cruz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: Spinal circuits generate locomotor rhythms, but the mechanisms behind episodic locomotor behaviors remain unclear. This study investigated dopamine-induced episodic rhythms in isolated neonatal mouse spinal cords to understand these mechanisms. The episodic rhythms were generally synchronous and propagated rostro-caudally, although occasional asynchrony was observed. Electrical stimulation of the L5 dorsal root entrained the episodic rhythms, suggesting afferent control and a distributed network. Even after transection or ventrolateral funiculus (VLF) lesions, episodic activity persisted in isolated thoracic or sacral segments, implying VLF-coupled networks. Rhythmicity was observed in VLF and dorsal root axons and was independent of cholinergic excitation via motoneurons, GABAA receptors, or dorsal inhibitory circuits. These findings suggest a flexibly coupled, distributed spinal interneuron network underlies episodic rhythmicity, providing a foundation for future investigations into how spinal circuits are modulated to produce diverse motor outputs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-226d9cc4941c4548a0addedf8fe7470e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2589-0042 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | iScience |
| spelling | doaj-art-226d9cc4941c4548a0addedf8fe7470e2025-08-20T03:00:34ZengElsevieriScience2589-00422025-03-0128311197110.1016/j.isci.2025.111971Episodic rhythmicity is generated by a distributed neural network in the developing mammalian spinal cordJonathan J. Milla-Cruz0Adam P. Lognon1Michelle A. Tran2Stephanie A. Di Vito3Carlotta Löer4Anchita Shonak5Matthew J. Broadhead6Gareth B. Miles7Simon A. Sharples8Patrick J. Whelan9Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaHotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaHotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaHotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaSchool of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9JP, UKHotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaSchool of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9JP, UKSchool of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9JP, UKDivision of Neurosurgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Corresponding authorHotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; Corresponding authorSummary: Spinal circuits generate locomotor rhythms, but the mechanisms behind episodic locomotor behaviors remain unclear. This study investigated dopamine-induced episodic rhythms in isolated neonatal mouse spinal cords to understand these mechanisms. The episodic rhythms were generally synchronous and propagated rostro-caudally, although occasional asynchrony was observed. Electrical stimulation of the L5 dorsal root entrained the episodic rhythms, suggesting afferent control and a distributed network. Even after transection or ventrolateral funiculus (VLF) lesions, episodic activity persisted in isolated thoracic or sacral segments, implying VLF-coupled networks. Rhythmicity was observed in VLF and dorsal root axons and was independent of cholinergic excitation via motoneurons, GABAA receptors, or dorsal inhibitory circuits. These findings suggest a flexibly coupled, distributed spinal interneuron network underlies episodic rhythmicity, providing a foundation for future investigations into how spinal circuits are modulated to produce diverse motor outputs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225002317NeuroscienceMolecular neuroscienceSensory neuroscience |
| spellingShingle | Jonathan J. Milla-Cruz Adam P. Lognon Michelle A. Tran Stephanie A. Di Vito Carlotta Löer Anchita Shonak Matthew J. Broadhead Gareth B. Miles Simon A. Sharples Patrick J. Whelan Episodic rhythmicity is generated by a distributed neural network in the developing mammalian spinal cord iScience Neuroscience Molecular neuroscience Sensory neuroscience |
| title | Episodic rhythmicity is generated by a distributed neural network in the developing mammalian spinal cord |
| title_full | Episodic rhythmicity is generated by a distributed neural network in the developing mammalian spinal cord |
| title_fullStr | Episodic rhythmicity is generated by a distributed neural network in the developing mammalian spinal cord |
| title_full_unstemmed | Episodic rhythmicity is generated by a distributed neural network in the developing mammalian spinal cord |
| title_short | Episodic rhythmicity is generated by a distributed neural network in the developing mammalian spinal cord |
| title_sort | episodic rhythmicity is generated by a distributed neural network in the developing mammalian spinal cord |
| topic | Neuroscience Molecular neuroscience Sensory neuroscience |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225002317 |
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