Membrane Potential Oscillations in Reticulospinal and Spinobulbar Neurons During Locomotor Activity

Authors

James F. Einum, Marquette University
James T. Buchanan, Marquette UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

9 p.

Publication Date

7-2005

Publisher

American Physiological Society

Source Publication

Journal of Neurophysiology

Source ISSN

0022-3077

Abstract

Feedback from the spinal locomotor networks provides rhythmic modulation of the membrane potential of reticulospinal (RS) neurons during locomotor activity. To further understand the origins of this rhythmic activity, the timings of the oscillations in spinobulbar (SB) neurons of the spinal cord and in RS neurons of the posterior and middle rhombencephalic reticular nuclei were measured using intracellular microelectrode recordings in the isolated brain stem-spinal cord preparation of the lamprey. A diffusion barrier constructed just caudal to the obex allowed induction of locomotor activity in the spinal cord by bath application of an excitatory amino acid to the spinal bath. All of the ipsilaterally projecting SB neurons recorded had oscillatory membrane potentials with peak depolarizations in phase with the ipsilateral ventral root bursts, whereas the contralaterally projecting SB neurons were about evenly divided between those in phase with the ipsilateral ventral root bursts and those in phase with the contralateral bursts. In the brain stem under these conditions, 75% of RS neurons had peak depolarizations in phase with the ipsilateral ventral root bursts while the remainder had peak depolarizations during the contralateral bursts. Addition of a high-Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ solution to the brain stem bath to reduce polysynaptic activity had little or no effect on oscillation timing in RS neurons, suggesting that direct inputs from SB neurons make a major contribution to RS neuron oscillations under these conditions. Under normal conditions when the brain is participating in the generation of locomotor activity, these spinal inputs will be integrated with other inputs to RS neurons.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Neurophysiology, Vol. 94 (July 2005): 273-281. DOI. © 2005 American Physiological Society. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Einum, James F. and Buchanan, James T., "Membrane Potential Oscillations in Reticulospinal and Spinobulbar Neurons During Locomotor Activity" (2005). Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 45.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bio_fac/45