TY - JOUR

T1 - Distribution of spinal neuronal networks controlling forward and backward locomotion

AU - Меркульева, Наталья Сергеевна

AU - Вещицкий, Александр

AU - Горский, Олег Владимирович

AU - Павлова, Наталья

AU - Зеленин, Павел

AU - Герасименко, Юрий

AU - Делягина, Татьяна

AU - Мусиенко, Павел Евгеньевич

PY - 2018/5/16

Y1 - 2018/5/16

N2 - Higher vertebrates, including humans, are capable not only of forward (FW) locomotion but also of walking in other directions relative to the body axis [backward (BW), sideways, etc.]. Although the neural mechanisms responsible for controlling FW locomotion have been studied in considerable detail, the mechanisms controlling steps in other directions are mostly unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the distribution of spinal neuronal networks controlling FW and BW locomotion. First, we applied electrical epidural stimulation (ES) to different segments of the spinal cord from L2 to S2 to reveal zones triggering FW and BW locomotion in decerebrate cats of either sex. Second, to determine the location of spinal neurons activated during FW and BW locomotion, we used c-Fos immuno-staining. We found that the neuronal networks responsible for FW locomotion were distributed broadly in the lumbosacral spinal cord and could be activated by ES of any segment from L3 to S2. By contrast, networks generating BW locomotion were activated by ES of a limited zone from the caudal part of L5 to the caudal part of L7. In the intermediate part of the gray matter within this zone, a significantly higher number of c-Fos-positive interneurons was revealed in BW-stepping cats compared with FW-stepping cats. We suggest that this region of the spinal cord contains the network that determines the BW direction of locomotion.

AB - Higher vertebrates, including humans, are capable not only of forward (FW) locomotion but also of walking in other directions relative to the body axis [backward (BW), sideways, etc.]. Although the neural mechanisms responsible for controlling FW locomotion have been studied in considerable detail, the mechanisms controlling steps in other directions are mostly unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the distribution of spinal neuronal networks controlling FW and BW locomotion. First, we applied electrical epidural stimulation (ES) to different segments of the spinal cord from L2 to S2 to reveal zones triggering FW and BW locomotion in decerebrate cats of either sex. Second, to determine the location of spinal neurons activated during FW and BW locomotion, we used c-Fos immuno-staining. We found that the neuronal networks responsible for FW locomotion were distributed broadly in the lumbosacral spinal cord and could be activated by ES of any segment from L3 to S2. By contrast, networks generating BW locomotion were activated by ES of a limited zone from the caudal part of L5 to the caudal part of L7. In the intermediate part of the gray matter within this zone, a significantly higher number of c-Fos-positive interneurons was revealed in BW-stepping cats compared with FW-stepping cats. We suggest that this region of the spinal cord contains the network that determines the BW direction of locomotion.

KW - Backward and forward walking

KW - C-Fos

KW - Decerebrate cat

KW - Locomotor networks

KW - CORD

KW - C-FOS

KW - FICTIVE LOCOMOTION

KW - QUADRUPEDAL WALKING

KW - CENTRAL PATTERN GENERATOR

KW - c-Fos

KW - BRAIN-STEM

KW - ADAPTIVE-CONTROL

KW - DORSAL SPINOCEREBELLAR TRACT

KW - decerebrate cat

KW - locomotor networks

KW - backward and forward walking

KW - CAT

KW - RENSHAW CELLS

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85050951681&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.jneurosci.org/lookup/doi/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2951-17.2018

UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/distribution-spinal-neuronal-networks-controlling-forward-backward-locomotion

U2 - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2951-17.2018

DO - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2951-17.2018

M3 - Article

C2 - 29678875

VL - 38

SP - 4695

EP - 4707

JO - Journal of Neuroscience

JF - Journal of Neuroscience

SN - 0270-6474

IS - 20

ER -