Descending projections and excitation during fictive swimming in Xenopus embryos: neuroanatomy and lesion experiments

The Journal of Comparative Neurology
A Roberts, S T Alford

Abstract

We describe the distribution of "descending" interneurons in late Xenopus laevis embryos after retrograde filling with horseradish peroxidaze via their ipsilateral, descending axons in the spinal cord. These multipolar neurons, with dendrites spread throughout the marginal zone, form a longitudinal column extending from midtrunk spinal cord into the brainstem to the level of the vagus. In the hindbrain these neurons are part of the uncrossed reticulospinal projection. They are most numerous in the caudal brainstem, their density falling by half at the eighth postotic segment. To examine their possible role in swimming we reduced the population of descending interneurons by making progressive transections of the brainstem or spinal cord at the first to fifth postotic segments. These led to progressive reduction in the initial frequency of fictive swimming in immobilized embryos, even when the brainstem was divided sagittally. Transecting the spinal cord at the fourth postotic segment did not reduce initial frequency rostral to the lesion. The effects of these lesions on the duration of fictive swimming episodes were similar. The results suggest that descending interneurons could provide excitatory drive during swimming and that ...Continue Reading

References

Apr 1, 1977·Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Containing Papers of a Biological Character·A Roberts, B P Hayes
Jan 15, 1979·Experimental Brain Research·S Grillner, P Zangger
Jul 1, 1976·Physiological Reviews·M L Shik, G N Orlovsky
Jun 11, 1976·Brain Research·S GrillnerP Zangger
May 1, 1985·Developmental Biology·M Westerfield, J S Eisen
Jul 1, 1985·Journal of Neurophysiology·A RobertsS R Soffe
Jan 22, 1985·The Journal of Comparative Neurology·R H NordlanderT M Ryba
Jun 1, 1985·The Journal of Physiology·N Dale
Jan 1, 1984·Anatomy and Embryology·P van Mier, H J ten Donkelaar
Jun 1, 1984·Journal of Neurophysiology·S R SoffeA Roberts
Feb 20, 1982·The Journal of Comparative Neurology·C B KimmelW K Metcalfe
Dec 1, 1982·Journal of Neurophysiology·S R Soffe, A Roberts
Oct 31, 1980·Science·F Delcomyn
Jan 27, 1982·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·A Roberts, J D Clarke
Jan 27, 1982·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·A Roberts, J A Khan

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Citations

Jan 1, 1995·Journal of Physiology, Paris·A Roberts, R Perrins
Jan 1, 1990·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Alan Roberts, Keith T. Sillar
Jan 1, 1991·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Nicholas Dale
Apr 6, 2016·Frontiers in Neural Circuits·Gheylen DaghfousRéjean Dubuc
Oct 4, 2014·Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience·Simon T Alford, Michael H Alpert
Sep 11, 2007·Brain Research Reviews·Alan RobertsErvin Wolf
Apr 7, 2004·The Neuroscientist : a Review Journal Bringing Neurobiology, Neurology and Psychiatry·Simon AlfordGonzalo Viana di Prisco
Oct 9, 2007·Brain Research Reviews·Stéphanie ChevallierJean-Marie Cabelguen
Jun 24, 2004·Journal of Neurophysiology·Wilson W CuiJohn Y Kuwada
May 20, 2011·Developmental Neurobiology·Caghan KizilMichael Brand
Apr 29, 1993·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·C E Harper, A Roberts
Nov 2, 2004·Developmental Dynamics : an Official Publication of the American Association of Anatomists·Petra D PandurSally A Moody
Jul 31, 2003·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Simon P AikenNicholas Dale
May 20, 1998·Journal of Neurophysiology·C S Green, S R Soffe
Sep 3, 2010·Journal of Neurophysiology·Dimitri RyczkoJean-Marie Cabelguen
Feb 8, 1993·The Journal of Comparative Neurology·V Hartenstein
Jul 15, 1987·The Journal of Comparative Neurology·A RobertsJ Storm-Mathisen

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