scholarly journals Stance-phase force on the opposite limb dictates swing-phase afferent presynaptic inhibition during locomotion

2012 ◽  
Vol 107 (11) ◽  
pp. 3168-3180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Brant Hayes ◽  
Young-Hui Chang ◽  
Shawn Hochman
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Presynaptic Inhibition ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Swing Phase ◽  
Primary Afferent Depolarization ◽  
Environmental Perturbations ◽  
Opposite Limb ◽  
Dorsal Root Potentials ◽  
Powerful Mechanism

Presynaptic inhibition is a powerful mechanism for selectively and dynamically gating sensory inputs entering the spinal cord. We investigated how hindlimb mechanics influence presynaptic inhibition during locomotion using pioneering approaches in an in vitro spinal cord–hindlimb preparation. We recorded lumbar dorsal root potentials to measure primary afferent depolarization-mediated presynaptic inhibition and compared their dependence on hindlimb endpoint forces, motor output, and joint kinematics. We found that stance-phase force on the opposite limb, particularly at toe contact, strongly influenced the magnitude and timing of afferent presynaptic inhibition in the swinging limb. Presynaptic inhibition increased in proportion to opposite limb force, as well as locomotor frequency. This form of presynaptic inhibition binds the sensorimotor states of the two limbs, adjusting sensory inflow to the swing limb based on forces generated by the stance limb. Functionally, it may serve to adjust swing-phase sensory transmission based on locomotor task, speed, and step-to-step environmental perturbations.

scholarly journals A genetically defined asymmetry underlies the inhibitory control of flexor–extensor locomotor movements

eLife ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Britz ◽  
Jingming Zhang ◽  
Katja S Grossmann ◽  
Jason Dyck ◽  
Jun C Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Genetic System ◽  
Swing Phase ◽  
Timely Initiation ◽  
Flexion Extension ◽  
Limb Flexion ◽  
Caudal Spinal Cord

V1 and V2b interneurons (INs) are essential for the production of an alternating flexor–extensor motor output. Using a tripartite genetic system to selectively ablate either V1 or V2b INs in the caudal spinal cord and assess their specific functions in awake behaving animals, we find that V1 and V2b INs function in an opposing manner to control flexor–extensor-driven movements. Ablation of V1 INs results in limb hyperflexion, suggesting that V1 IN-derived inhibition is needed for proper extension movements of the limb. The loss of V2b INs results in hindlimb hyperextension and a delay in the transition from stance phase to swing phase, demonstrating V2b INs are required for the timely initiation and execution of limb flexion movements. Our findings also reveal a bias in the innervation of flexor- and extensor-related motor neurons by V1 and V2b INs that likely contributes to their differential actions on flexion–extension movements.

α5GABAA receptors mediate primary afferent fiber tonic excitability in the turtle spinal cord

2013 ◽  
Vol 110 (9) ◽  
pp. 2175-2184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuel Loeza-Alcocer ◽  
Martha Canto-Bustos ◽  
Justo Aguilar ◽  
Ricardo González-Ramírez ◽  
Ricardo Felix ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Dorsal Root Ganglia ◽  
Dorsal Root ◽  
Afferent Fiber ◽  
Primary Afferents ◽  
Equilibrium Potential ◽  
Primary Afferent Depolarization ◽  
Primary Afferent ◽  
Dorsal Root Reflex

γ-Amino butyric acid (GABA) plays a key role in the regulation of central nervous system by activating synaptic and extrasynaptic GABAA receptors. It is acknowledged that extrasynaptic GABAA receptors located in the soma, dendrites, and axons may be activated tonically by low extracellular GABA concentrations. The activation of these receptors produces a persistent conductance that can hyperpolarize or depolarize nerve cells depending on the Cl− equilibrium potential. In an in vitro preparation of the turtle spinal cord we show that extrasynaptic α5GABAA receptors mediate the tonic state of excitability of primary afferents independently of the phasic primary afferent depolarization mediated by synaptic GABAA receptors. Blockade of α5GABAA receptors with the inverse agonist L-655,708 depressed the dorsal root reflex (DRR) without affecting the phasic increase in excitability of primary afferents. Using RT-PCR and Western blotting, we corroborated the presence of the mRNA and the α5GABAA protein in the dorsal root ganglia of the turtle spinal cord. The receptors were localized in primary afferents in dorsal root, dorsal root ganglia, and peripheral nerve terminals using immunoconfocal microscopy. Considering the implications of the DRR in neurogenic inflammation, α5GABAA receptors may serve as potential pharmacological targets for the treatment of pain.

scholarly journals Muscle afferent excitability testing in spinal root-intact rats: dissociating peripheral afferent and efferent volleys generated by intraspinal microstimulation

2017 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 796-807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeka Tomatsu ◽  
Geehee Kim ◽  
Joachim Confais ◽  
Kazuhiko Seki
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Presynaptic Inhibition ◽  
Muscle Afferents ◽  
Primary Afferents ◽  
Medial Gastrocnemius ◽  
Primary Afferent Depolarization ◽  
Spinal Root ◽  
Primary Afferent ◽  
Intraspinal Microstimulation ◽  
Spinal Roots

Presynaptic inhibition of the sensory input from the periphery to the spinal cord can be evaluated directly by intra-axonal recording of primary afferent depolarization (PAD) or indirectly by intraspinal microstimulation (excitability testing). Excitability testing is superior for use in normal behaving animals, because this methodology bypasses the technically challenging intra-axonal recording. However, use of excitability testing on the muscle or joint afferent in intact animals presents its own technical challenges. Because these afferents, in many cases, are mixed with motor axons in the peripheral nervous system, it is crucial to dissociate antidromic volleys in the primary afferents from orthodromic volleys in the motor axon, both of which are evoked by intraspinal microstimulation. We have demonstrated in rats that application of a paired stimulation protocol with a short interstimulus interval (ISI) successfully dissociated the antidromic volley in the nerve innervating the medial gastrocnemius muscle. By using a 2-ms ISI, the amplitude of the volleys evoked by the second stimulation was decreased in dorsal root-sectioned rats, but the amplitude did not change or was slightly increased in ventral root-sectioned rats. Excitability testing in rats with intact spinal roots indicated that the putative antidromic volleys exhibited dominant primary afferent depolarization, which was reasonably induced from the more dorsal side of the spinal cord. We concluded that excitability testing with a paired-pulse protocol can be used for studying presynaptic inhibition of somatosensory afferents in animals with intact spinal roots. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Excitability testing of primary afferents has been used to evaluate presynaptic modulation of synaptic transmission in experiments conducted in vivo. However, to apply this method to muscle afferents of animals with intact spinal roots, it is crucial to dissociate antidromic and orthodromic volleys induced by spinal microstimulation. We propose a new method to make this dissociation possible without cutting spinal roots and demonstrate that it facilitates excitability testing of muscle afferents.

Differential effects of a flexor nerve input on the human soleus H-reflex during standing versus walking

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 436-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Capaday ◽  
B. A. Lavoie ◽  
F. Comeau
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Presynaptic Inhibition ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Conditioning Stimulus ◽  
Background Level ◽  
H Reflex ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Group I ◽  
The Difference

A conditioning (C) stimulus at group I strength was delivered during standing to the common peroneal (CP) nerve before a test (T) stimulus at several C–T intervals ranging from 0 to 150 ms. At sufficiently long C–T intervals (100–120 ms) the soleus H-reflex was strongly inhibited despite little, or no change, in the background level of EMG activity. This finding indicates that a significant portion of the inhibition occurs at a premotoneuronal level, likely via presynaptic inhibition of the Ia-afferent terminals. During standing, at C–T intervals of 100–120 ms (optimal C–T interval) a conditioning stimulus to the CP nerve of 1.5 times motor threshold (MT) intensity reduced the soleus H-reflex by an average of 45.8% (n = 14 subjects). The conditioning stimulus always produced a clear inhibition of the H-reflex during standing at these C–T intervals. The effects of this conditioning stimulus on the soleus H-reflex were then determined in the early part of the stance phase of walking. In contrast to standing, the conditioning stimulus produced little or no inhibition during the early part of the stance phase of walking (average inhibition 45.8 vs. 11.6%, n = 14 subjects). The soleus background EMG, and the soleus and tibialis anterior M-waves were essentially the same during standing and walking. Furthermore, there was no shift of the optimal C–T interval during walking. The difference in the effects of the conditioning stimulus was not due to differences in the size of the test H-reflex in each task. It appears to be due to a genuine task-dependent change in the input–output properties of the underlying spinal cord circuits. There are at least two, mutually compatible, explanations of these results. Firstly, during walking the intraspinal terminals of the afferent fibres (group Ia and Ib) conducting the conditioning volley may be presynaptically inhibited, or their input gated at the interneuronal level. Secondly, on the assumption that the conditioning stimulus is acting via the presynaptic inhibitory network in the spinal cord, it is possible that during walking this network is saturated as a result of increased central or peripheral synaptic inputs. Finally, it seems unlikely that differences in the refractoriness of the CP nerve between the tasks may be involved; the reasons for this are presented in the discussion.Key words: Ia afferents, motoneurons, presynaptic inhibition, EMG, posture, locomotion, spinal cord.

scholarly journals Extrasynaptic α5GABAA receptors on proprioceptive afferents produce a tonic depolarization that modulates sodium channel function in the rat spinal cord

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (6) ◽  
pp. 2953-2974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana M. Lucas-Osma ◽  
Yaqing Li ◽  
Shihao Lin ◽  
Sophie Black ◽  
Rahul Singla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Sodium Channel ◽  
Gaba Receptors ◽  
Presynaptic Inhibition ◽  
Primary Afferent Depolarization ◽  
Branch Points ◽  
Synaptic Contacts ◽  
Sensory Axons ◽  
Proprioceptive Afferents ◽  
Afferent Terminals

Activation of GABAA receptors on sensory axons produces a primary afferent depolarization (PAD) that modulates sensory transmission in the spinal cord. While axoaxonic synaptic contacts of GABAergic interneurons onto afferent terminals have been extensively studied, less is known about the function of extrasynaptic GABA receptors on afferents. Thus, we examined extrasynaptic α5GABAA receptors on low-threshold proprioceptive (group Ia) and cutaneous afferents. Afferents were impaled with intracellular electrodes and filled with neurobiotin in the sacrocaudal spinal cord of rats. Confocal microscopy was used to reconstruct the afferents and locate immunolabelled α5GABAA receptors. In all afferents α5GABAA receptors were found throughout the extensive central axon arbors. They were most densely located at branch points near sodium channel nodes, including in the dorsal horn. Unexpectedly, proprioceptive afferent terminals on motoneurons had a relative lack of α5GABAA receptors. When recording intracellularly from these afferents, blocking α5GABAA receptors (with L655708, gabazine, or bicuculline) hyperpolarized the afferents, as did blocking neuronal activity with tetrodotoxin, indicating a tonic GABA tone and tonic PAD. This tonic PAD was increased by repeatedly stimulating the dorsal root at low rates and remained elevated for many seconds after the stimulation. It is puzzling that tonic PAD arises from α5GABAA receptors located far from the afferent terminal where they can have relatively little effect on terminal presynaptic inhibition. However, consistent with the nodal location of α5GABAA receptors, we find tonic PAD helps produce sodium spikes that propagate antidromically out the dorsal roots, and we suggest that it may well be involved in assisting spike transmission in general. NEW & NOTEWORTHY GABAergic neurons are well known to form synaptic contacts on proprioceptive afferent terminals innervating motoneurons and to cause presynaptic inhibition. However, the particular GABA receptors involved are unknown. Here, we examined the distribution of extrasynaptic α5GABAA receptors on proprioceptive Ia afferents. Unexpectedly, these receptors were found preferentially near nodal sodium channels throughout the afferent and were largely absent from afferent terminals. These receptors produced a tonic afferent depolarization that modulated sodium spikes, consistent with their location.

K+ changes in the extracellular space of the spinal cord and their physiological role

1981 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-109
Author(s):  
E. Sykova
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Tactile Stimulation ◽  
Current Flow ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Primary Afferent Depolarization ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
K Concentration ◽  
Dorsal Root Potentials ◽  
Stimulation Of

K+ accumulates in the intercellular space as a result of neuronal activity. The changes in extracellular K+ concentration, delta[K]e (estimated by K+-selective microelectrodes), depends on neuronal activity, on the density of discharging neurones and the removal of the accumulated K+ by diffusion, active transport and current flow through cells. In the mammalian as well as the amphibian spinal cord a single volley in a peripheral nerve increases [K]e by 0.2-0.5 mmol. 1-1, while tetanic stimulation (100 Hz) by 7-8 m-mol. 1-1, with a maximum in the lower dorsal horn. Increased [K]e was also found in lumbar segments when the somatosensory cortex of the cat and medulla of the frog were stimulated. In the frog spinal cord, the tactile stimulation of the hindlimb evoked delta[K]e by about 0.1 mumol. 1-1, nociceptive stimulation by 0.2-1.0 mmol. 1-1. Spontaneous delta[K]e and dorsal root potentials (DRPs) were observed at various intervals after stimulation, associated with the decay phase of delta[K]e. It was shown that primary afferent depolarization (PAD) consists of two components: the ‘early’ component (mediated by GABA and depressed by picrotoxin or bicuculline) and the ‘late’ K+ component (potentiated by picrotoxin and bicuculline). Even when increased [K]e produces PAD, this does not mean that it also results in presynaptic inhibition. It was found that the delta[K]e produced depolarization of motoneurones and neuroglia and there is every reason to believe that this also applies to the interneurones. Evidence is available that an increase of [K]e up to 6 mmol. 1-1 facilitates impulse transmission in the spinal cord while higher levels result in its inhibition.

Effects of synthetic buffers on reflexes in the isolated frog spinal cord

1975 ◽  
Vol 229 (3) ◽  
pp. 831-837 ◽  
Author(s):  
RA Davidoff ◽  
ES Sears
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Dorsal Root ◽  
Ringer Solution ◽  
Membrane Properties ◽  
Buffer System ◽  
Bicarbonate Buffer ◽  
Frog Spinal Cord ◽  
Dorsal Root Reflex ◽  
Dorsal Root Potentials

Substitution of synthetic buffers (Tris, TES, HEPES, or 3,3-dimethylglutarate) for CO2-bicarbonate buffer in Ringer solution perfusing the isolated in vitro frog spinal cord preparation altered membrane properties and reflex activity. Perfusion with Ringer solution gassed with O2 and containing synthetic bu,fers consistently produced a depolarization of motoneurons and dorsal root fibers, decreased the amplitude (and usually the duration) of ventral and dorsal root potentials, and had variable effects on motoneuron and dorsal root reflex discharges. With Tris-Ringer these discharges decreased in amplitude; with Ringer containing one of the other synthetic buffers, these discharges were augmented. All changes were reversible when the cord was returned to bicarbonate-buffered Ringer aerated with 95% O2/5% CO2. The use of a combined buffer system-one containing a synthetic buffer and bicarbonate-induced smaller or minimal changes in bioelectric activity. At present the data are insufficient to allow firm conclusions concerning the mechanisms underlying these results; but it is evident 1) that changes in PCO2 and bicarbonate concentration and 2) that the pharmacological properties of synthetic buffers are important variables.

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